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The Johnson House

By Cindy Barrett-Sells and Leah Zerbe

Introduction

Nestled in the Mount Airy and Germantown sector of Philadelphia since 1768, the Johnson House has seen its share of history and was home to four generations of a Quaker family who were active in the Abolitionist Movement to erase slavery in the United States.

The Johnson family, who inhabited the house until 1908, reached out to runaway slaves and risked prosecution to send them to freedom. Their home marked a vital stop in the Underground Railroad, a network of homes where runaway slaves could escape to during their perilous travel to freedom in the North.

Because slaves had to pass by in secrecy, there is no definitive record that describes how many runaway slaves used the Johnson House to eventual freedom. However, Harriet Tubman found refuge at the Johnson House and is believed to have helped many other runaway slaves.

In addition to its importance in the Underground Railroad, the Johnson House also has ties to the Revolutionary War. The historic home still displays cannonball and musket damage from the Battle of Germantown, which took place in 1777.

Photo Galleries

Exterior Interior Archeology

Pictures by Cindy Barrett-Sells