Johnson House Historic Site

My group and I had a wonderful experience at the Johnson House! The stories of this house are incredible, and being in the space where so much history occurred was moving and inspirational. Our tour guide was well informed and had so much knowledge to share. He provide several options for what to focus on, from the Underground Railroad and Abolition, to the Womens Club, Revolutionary War and the neighborhood of Germantown. A visit to this museum is highly recommended!

Visited the Johnson House on a trip to Philadelphia and it was absolutely phenomenal. Jim was our guide and we learned so much about the Johnson family, the Stills, Germantown, and the underground railroad. He did an amazing job of sharing information with us that we never learned in school, truly a wealth of knowledge. The Johnson House is carefully curated and pays stellar homage to those that came before us. I recommend filling out the google form on the website to set up your tour. Honestly there is so much to learn you could spend the whole day there. 10/10 would recommend

I visited in 2019 and am writing a review all these years later because that visit stands out in my memory as the best historical/museum tour I've ever been on. I frequently mention my visit to the Johnson House in conversation because of how wonderful my experience was. Our tour guide was Jim and he was absolutely outstanding! I have never experienced such engaging and dynamic storytelling on a tour. I still remember everything I learned on that tour because of Jim. I highly, highly recommend visiting!

Very disappointing and unprofessional experience. We visited the Johnson House Historic Site on June 20, 2025, after seeing it advertised on Visit Philly as one of the free museums for the day. When we arrived for the 3 PM tour, we were abruptly told we needed an appointment—even though nowhere on the website did it mention that pre-registration was required. We were eventually let inside for a quick look, but then the same staff member stopped us and demanded a $15 fee for entry and a tour. We showed her the official Visit Philly promotion listing the site as free for the day, but she insisted on using a printed tour schedule from 2023 to justify the charge. At that point, we simply left—frustrated and disappointed. It was a waste of time and a real letdown, especially for a historic site that should be more welcoming and organized during a city-wide free museum event.

Visiting the Johnson House was an incredibly powerful experience. Jim did a great job of explaining how the Johnson family risked everything as active abolitionists and in commitment to their faith. Being in the actual space where freedom seekers rested and gathered strength really put history into perspective. If you're looking for history with real heart and relevance, I would recommend.

My wife and I were excited to visit the Johnson House—a beautiful building with rich history—especially since June 20th was listed on VisitPhilly.com as a free museum day with no registration required. Unfortunately, our experience left us confused and disappointed. We arrived around 2:30 PM and were met by someone outside locking up. She asked if we were registered, and we explained that VisitPhilly and other sources clearly stated no registration was needed. She let us in and told us to join the 3 PM tour. While we toured part of the house with others already inside, she later returned and said the tour would be $15 per person. Again, we showed her the listings online that said the tour was free. She insisted they were incorrect and instead showed us a 2023 tour schedule that listed the $15 fee. We were confused—why show outdated information in 2025? Rather than argue, we chose to leave. It was frustrating to be misled by published promotions that didn’t match the on-site experience. We hope future visitors don’t go through the same confusion. Please ensure your public listings are up to date and accurate. Also, make sure your staff are aware of what you and the city are offering to tourists.

I really enjoyed visiting the Johnson House site. The historical importance of the site cannot be overstated. With the help of an outstanding guide, I learned so much about the Johnson family, the abolitionist movement in the US, and the home's history (including as a stopping point on the Underground Railroad). Kudos to the good folks keeping this place alive for us all to benefit from.

Excellent tour and whilst there we were made aware of many other historic sites in Germantown.