Built by Dr. John Johnson in 1850, the John Archibald Johnson House became the doctor and his family?s home for quite some time before the Civil War. The three-story building, like many other houses in the area, was confiscated by the troops during the 1860s and was used as a Union hospital.

The John Archibald Johnson House was mostly a residential building for the longest time. It was built by the Johnsons to provide a formal and elegant living. This aim is evident with its magnificent rooms opening to piazzas and many other elements.

When the John Archibald Johnson House was slated for demolition in the 1970s, the Historic Beaufort Foundation stepped in and purchased the property. They then resold it to a private owner who managed to restore the historic house.