Description:

William Johnson was a free African American in antebellum Natchez. He owned several buildings in Natchez, thousands of acres south of town and several slaves. He gained the respect of leading citizens of the time. He kept a diary for almost sixteen years, from 1835 until his death in 1851. It is the lengthiest and most detailed personal narrative authored by an African American during the antebellum era in the United States. Johnson’s diary evolved into an extraordinary chronicle of trials and tribulations, social, economic, and political life in his hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, as seen through the eyes of a free black man.

Operated by the National Park Service, William Johnson’s House is open seven days a week and is free to the public. It contains a bookstore, exhibit room and fully furnished recreated living quarters. The exhibit is ADA accessible and incorporates advanced audio/visual media.