A 1903 painting depicts the presentation of medals to the Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy in 1772 from Johnson Hall
Re-live American History – The 1776 Seizure Reenactment at Johnson Hall, May 16 and 17
Occupation and Confiscation of Johnstown Reenactment
250th American Revolution Commemoration Event
(JOHNSTOWN, NEW YORK) – In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Johnson Hall State Historic Site will commemorate the occupation of Johnstown and the confiscation of Johnson Hall by Revolutionary forces in May 1776. The free, two-day living history event on May 16 and 17, 2026 will feature military and civilian reenactors interpreting the experiences of local colonial European, Mohawk, and enslaved African communities, staged recreations of key events in downtown Johnstown and at Johnson Hall, and a chance to see the interior of the historic home as never seen before— looted and ruined in the aftermath of the raid.
Only five months after disarming Johnstown in January 1776, Continental soldiers occupied the community once again in May, seizing Johnson Hall and arresting residents accused of refusing to support the Revolution. Lady Mary Watts Johnson, her young children, and other members of the household were taken to Albany, where they were held hostage to ensure the compliance of the Johnson family. Johnstown would remain a key location in the contest for control of the region, as local residents – rebel, loyalist, and neutral alike – found their world turned upside down, facing an uncertain future in the civil war that was to come.
On Saturday, May 16, the event will begin in downtown Johnstown at 9:30 am at the corner of Main Street and North William Street. Reenactors portraying community members will explain the varied news of approaching Revolutionary soldiers. This will be followed by the arrival and military parade of the 3rd New Jersey Regiment, the arrest of suspected Loyalists, and a recreation of the conference between officers of the regiment and representatives from the Mohawk community of Tiononderoge/Fort Hunter. At 12:30 pm, the downtown occupation will conclude, and the reenactment procession will then move to Johnson Hall State Historic Site (139 Hall Ave. Johnstown, NY 12095) where at 1:30 pm, the action resumes with a recreation of the Hall’s confiscation, the arrest of Lady Johnson, and the looting of the Hall. After the conclusion of the scripted commemorations, attendees will have the opportunity to talk with reenactors and site staff about the history of the event while touring the ransacked Hall through 5pm.
On Sunday, May 17, Johnson Hall State Historic Site will be open from 9 am to 3 pm for ongoing living history interpretation. Explore the historic house, defensive structures and grounds, witness recreations of the courts-martial that followed the looting of the Hall, and converse with reenactors and staff to learn about the aftermath of the confiscation and raid.
This commemoration is free and open to all. It is made possible by support from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the NYS 250th Commemoration Commission, The Friends of Johnson Hall, the City of Johnstown, Fulton County and Fulton County Tourism.
This event is part of a series commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution at New York state parks and historic sites. For more events and information, visit https://parks.ny.gov/history/rev-war.
Johnson Hall is located at 139 Hall Avenue in Johnstown, New York. As the home of Sir William Johnson and Molly Brant, it served as a seat of trade and diplomacy on the borderlands of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee and British colonial holdings in North America. The Hall is open for guided tours Wednesday through Sunday from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October. For further information, please call (518) 762-8712, visit the site’s website or find Johnson Hall State Historic Site on Facebook.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 88 million visits annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.
Fulton County is rich in authentic American History – visit www.44lakes.com to find out more and plan your visit!
PHOTO CAPTION: The January 1776 raid of Johnson Hall is recreated on January 17, 2026 at Johnson Hall State Historic Site.
CREDIT: NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation