Johnson House, Old Town San Diego facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Johnson House |
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Johnson House, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
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| General information | |
| Status | Reconstructed |
| Type | Historic building |
| Location | 2706 San Diego Avenue |
| Address | 2706 San Diego Avenue |
| Town or city | San Diego |
| Country | United States |
| Named for | George Alonzo Johnson |
| Completed | 1989 (reconstruction) |
| Renovated | 1989 |
| Client | California State Parks |
| Owner | California State Parks |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Wood-frame |
The Johnson House, also known as the Johnson Building, is a historic building you can visit in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park in San Diego, California. It's a copy of a building from the 1870s and gives us a peek into what life was like back then. It stands on a historic spot called the Plaza de Las Armas.
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History of the Johnson House
The story of the Johnson House is a fascinating look at the history of early American San Diego.
A Building from a Box
The original Johnson House was built in 1870. What made it special was that it was a pre-fabricated building. This means all its parts were made somewhere else and then shipped to San Diego to be put together, kind of like a giant model kit!
This was a common way to build in the area at the time. The building was made of wood and had a "false front," which was a popular style that made a building look bigger and more impressive from the street. It also had a long wooden porch.
Who Was Captain Johnson?
The building was owned by George Alonzo Johnson. He was a famous steamboat captain who sailed on the Colorado River. He owned a successful company called the Colorado Steam Navigation Company.
Captain Johnson also owned a huge piece of land called Rancho Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos. In 1869, he bought the empty lot in Old Town from his mother-in-law, Tomasa Pico de Alvarado, to build his new office.
From Office to Home
For a while, the building was used as an office for Captain Johnson's businesses. However, in the 1880s, the Johnson family faced money problems and had to give up their large rancho.
After losing their rancho, Captain Johnson and his family moved into the building in Old Town. It became their new home. Captain Johnson lived there until he passed away in 1903.
Rebuilding a Piece of History
The original Johnson House is no longer standing. But in 1989, California State Parks decided to rebuild it so that visitors could see what it was like. They carefully reconstructed the building to look just like the original.
Today, the rebuilt Johnson House is a "park concession." This means it's a shop or business that operates inside the state park, helping to bring the history of Old Town San Diego to life for everyone who visits.
