The Johnston Farm and Rose Hill…. are together perhaps the most important spot in American agriculture.
Built by Scottish immigrant John Johnston in 1822, the house is located on the original land where Johnston became a well-known advocate of improved farming techniques. He was the first farmer in the United States to use drain tiles to increase productivity on his farm, and it became one of the most famous farms in 19th-century America. To learn more about tile drainage, watch this video.
Home to the Johnston family from 1822-1877, the Johnston House features exhibits, interactive spaces, and a research room.
The site also includes the Mike Weaver Drain Tile Museum, which contains a comprehensive collection of drain tiles dating from ancient times to the present.
To discover the connection between Rose Hill Mansion and Johnston House, watch this video.
In 2026, Johnston House will be open Saturdays, June 13, July 11, September 12 and October 10, from 11 am – 3 pm. The house is also open by appointment between May 1 and October 31 with 24-hours notice. Email rosehill@historicgeneva.org or call 315-789-5151 to arrange a visit.
Suggested donation: $5 per person.
Group tours are available by reservation. For more information, email Historic Geneva at rosehill@historicgeneva.org or call 315-789-3848 from May to October or 315-789-5151 year-round.
Johnston House stands on the traditional lands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫ’ or “the People of the Great Swamp.” In English, they are known as the Cayuga Nation. They are one of the six Nations that make up the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the world’s oldest continual participatory democracy.
This acknowledgement is one small step in the process of dismantling the unjust legacies of colonialism and honoring Cayuga and Haudenosaunee communities, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations.
General
Parking
For Visitors with Mobility Impairments
For Visitors who are Blind or have Low Vision
For Visitors who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
For visitors with Sensory or Communication Disabilities
If you have additional questions about accessibility or other needs, please contact Historic Geneva at 315-789-5151 or info@historicgeneva.org.
Bathrooms – There are no bathrooms at Johnston House.
Dining – There is no dining facility on site. Ventosa Vineyards, Three Brothers Wineries and Estates , and Byrne Dairy are a short drive from Johnston House.
First Aid – Johnston House has a first aid kit.
Pets – Service animals are welcome. They must remain on a leash or harness inside the house and Tile Museum. Pets and therapy animals are allowed on the grounds only.
Shopping – There is no gift shop on site.
Strollers and Wheelchairs – There are no strollers or wheelchairs available for use.
How old is Johnston House? – The house was built by John Johnston in 1822.
How large was Johnston Farm? – John Johnston owned about 300 acres of land. The driveway next to Johnston House marks what was the southernmost boundary of his farm. The farm extended west to Seneca Lake, and its northern boundary divided his property from that of his son-in-law Robert Swan. The house itself is the only remaining building dating from the Johnston period (1821-1877).
What is tile drainage? – Farmers use underground clay tile to remove excess groundwater, allowing plants to grow stronger and make the soil more productive for farming. The practice goes back to ancient times. Farmers past and present have used straw, sticks, stones, clay tiles, and plastic tubing to guide the water off the land. John Johnston was the first farmer in the United States to use clay drain tiles to improve his farm. To learn more about tile drainage, watch this video.
Who was Mike Weaver? – Mike Weaver (1912-2000) was a civil engineer with the Soil Conservation Service for thirty years. He lived in Waterloo and worked on irrigation and drainage projects. After finding a drain tile on his farm in the 1950s, Weaver began collecting them. By the 1990s, he had over 350 tiles and related materials from around the world. He donated his collection to Historic Geneva in the early 1990s, and it is on display at the Johnston House.
Who else lived with John Johnston? – At any given time between 1822 and 1877 a lot of people lived in Johnston House. In addition to Johnston and his wife Margaret, there were their six daughters (Elizabeth, Jesse, Nancy, Maragaret, Hope, and Marion) and two granddaughters; 4-5 hired men; and various relatives.
How long has Johnson House been a museum? – Historic Geneva purchased the house along with 1.4 acres of land in 1991, and it became part of the Rose Hill Complex (link to the Rose Hill page). Historic Geneva decided to return the house as close as possible to its original 1822 appearance. The house opened to the public in May 1994. To learn more about Johnston House, read this blog article.
Do you have to be a supporter (member) of Historic Geneva to visit the Johnston House or Tile Museum or attend a program? No. The Johnston House, Tile Museum, and Historic Geneva’s programs are open to the public. Anyone is welcome to support Historic Geneva and our mission to share Geneva’s stories.