Old Fort Johnson

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The Fort is now closed for the season. 
Join us in 2023 for another year filled with programs & activities for everyone!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Programs held earlier this year  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Saturday, May 21 ~ Hands-On History: Family Day


It's been ten years since Hurricane Irene roared through the Mohawk Valley, and we are inviting all of our friends to come celebrate what we have accomplished at Old Fort Johnson since then.  Check out our new flood walls and beautifully restored gardens.  The house will be open for tours and there will be lots of family-friendly activities, including free ice cream!  Come join us for the day. Open 10:00-4:00 pm. 

A Summer Concert Series: Three Hundred Years of Music in the Mohawk Valley

Three Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm in the West Parlor

June 22    Refreshment for the Mind: Music in the Johnson Household*


The rooms of Fort Johnson echoed with music when Sir William Johnson lived here. Local musicians Liaisons Plaisantes bring colonial times to life with a program of music first developed for the 2011 Western Frontier Symposium. Based on extensive research in the Johnson papers, they will perform some of the songs, instrumental music and dance tunes that Johnson’s family and friends played for amusement.


July 20     Music in the Midst of Madness: Respite from the Turmoil of Civil War**  --  MOVED TO SEPT 14


Wanda Burch read the wartime letters of hundreds of people while writing The Home Voices Speak Louder than the Drums: Dreams & the Imagination in Civil War Letters & Memoirs. Almost all of them mention music, whether written in army camps or from home. Hear their stories with images of the time, while Ron Burch on the field organ and Gisella Montanez Case, vocalist, perform the songs used as a common language in the middle of the 19th century.


August 17   A World in Ragtime**


Actor-singer Byron Nilsson and pianist Malcolm Kogut bring us into the 20th Century with a delightful program of songs and piano solos that capture the spirit of the Ragtime Era, when America’s tunesmiths found a syncopated beat and music changed forever. It all began with Scott Joplin, but once Irving Berlin’s “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” became a hit in 1911, Tin Pan Alley went crazy with imitations. Spirited numbers like “That Shakespearean Rag” (which influenced T.S. Eliot), Eddie Cantor hits and other up-tempo favorites will keep your toes tapping along.


* This performances is underwritten by a Performing Arts Grant from Saratoga Arts, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts

 with the support of the office of the Governor and the NYS Legislature. 

**These two performances are underwritten by Individual Artist Grants from Saratoga Arts, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts 

with the support of the office of the Governor and the NYS Legislature.

Garden Teas


Join us in the summer garden of the Fort for an afternoon tea party.  Admission is a $25.00 non-refundable donation per person and includes your choice of the finest hot and iced teas served with a tower of homemade savory sandwiches, assorted sweets, and fresh fruit.  Held indoors in case of rain. Seating is limited.  

PRE-PAID RESERVATIONS ARE NOW REQUIRED.


Book your tea reservation by calling 518-843-0300, then send a check to confirm your seat: MCHS, PO Box 196, Ft Johnson NY 12070 


Tuesday, June 14 -   1:00 pm  A beautiful day!

Tuesday, July 12  -   1:00 pm  SOLD OUT

Tuesday, August 9 -  1:00 pm  SOLD OUT


Montgomery County Historical Society Annual Membership Meeting

Wednesday, September 14 

6:30-7:00 pm


Our annual gathering of the membership of the Montgomery County Historical Society is held at Old Fort Johnson on the second Wednesday of the month of September.  All current members of the Montgomery County Historical Society in good standing are invited to attend. A brief meeting will be held in the parlor at 6:30 pm, followed by the rescheduled performance of Civil War music from our “300 Years of Music in the Mohawk Valley” summer concert series. 





7:00 pm Concert Program:  Music in the Midst of Madness: Respite from the Turmoil of Civil War  


Wanda Burch read the wartime letters of hundreds of people while writing The Home Voices Speak Louder than the Drums: Dreams & the Imagination in Civil War Letters & Memoirs. Almost all of them mention music, whether written in army camps or from home. Hear their stories with images of the time, while Ron Burch on the field organ and Gisella Montanez-Case, vocalist, perform the songs used as a common language in the middle of the 19th century.  (rescheduled from July)  


All donations in lieu of concert admissions will be given to the Roof Restoration Fund for Old Fort Johnson.


Tavern Night at Old Fort Johnson

Friday, September 30

4:00 - 800 pm


Celebrate the arrival of fall with a tavern night at Old Fort Johnson.  We're featuring the locally crafted beers of Eisenadler Brauhaus, hard cider and iced tea, plus a full pulled pork BBQ dinner.  The historic house will be open until 6:00 pm for a scavenger hunt.  In addition, we'll have 18th century tavern games on the lawn and under the tents. Your $25.00 admission includes one drink, a full dinner and a souvenir pint glass. Additional drink tickets are available on site. Bring your friends and make it a night to remember!  


Seating is limited so advance tickets recommended. Proceeds benefit the restoration of the roof of the 1749 Old Fort Johnson National Historic Landmark.

Harvest Festival

Saturday, October 15   11:00 am - 4:00 pm


Celebrate the season by helping us make fresh apple cider from the best of the Mohawk Valley apples.  Enjoy crafts, colonial games and tours of the 1749 house.

Old Fort Johnson Craft Workshop - Stencilled Checkers Board

Sat. October 15  10:00-12:00


Stencil your own colonial draughts set - Canvas board and checkers pieces provided along with a variety of special stencils to use to make your own personal traveling checkers set.  Taught by Lori Rulison.  Workshop + materials fee = $25.00.   Reservations required in advance.  Call 518-843-0300 to save your spot.  

Old Fort Johnson Craft Workshop - Watercolor Notecards

Sat. October 29  10:00-12:00


Learn the basics of watercolor and create a notecard or two for a special someone.  Card stock and paints provided, along with two special brushes to take home for your future use. Taught by Juliet Konieczny.  Workshop + materials fee = $30.00.   Reservations required in advance.  Call 518-843-0300 to save your spot.  

Old Fort Johnson Craft Workshop - Paper Quilting 

Wednesday, November 9  10:00-12:00


Learn a new Dutch paper folding technique, then interlock the designs to create a paper ornament or notecards. Paper and instructions provided for four different designs. Taught by Kat Simmons.  Workshop + materials fee = $25.00.   Reservations required in advance.  Call 518-843-0300 to save your spot.  

Old Fort Johnson Craft Workshop - Scherenschnitte Paper Cutting

Sat. November 12  10:00-12:00


Learn the art of German paper cutting and create a beautiful holiday design from a single sheet of paper. 

Paper and designs provided.  Bring a sharp pair of small scissors. Taught by Lisa Stegeland.  Workshop + materials fee = $25.00.   Reservations required in advance.  Call 518-843-0300 to save your spot.  


Holiday Tea in the Old Fort

Saturday, December 3


Two seatings:    11:00 am   &  2:00 pm

                           Both seatings are now completely booked!!


Start your holiday season with a tea party with friends in the parlors of Old Fort Johnson. Enjoy your choice of three varieties of hot tea and tower of tasty homemade sandwiches, tea cakes & cookies. All proceeds go to support the restoration of the historic house.  $30.00 per person non-refundable donation.  Advance pre-paid reservations required; seating is limited.  Call to reserve seats and send checks to MCHS, PO Box 196, Fort Johnson NY 12070.

Old Fort Johnson is located on NYS Route 5 at its intersection with Route 67 in the Village of Fort Johnson, 

approximately one mile west of the Amsterdam City line. (GPS Address = 2 Mergner Rd, 12070)