Walking through the front door of the James Johnston House immerses you into the 1850s. Docents will greet you in their historic period clothing to bring to life the story of the family and house. The location is on a prominent hill south of downtown Half Moon Bay on Higgins Canyon Road (turn at the signal light on Highway 1 at the fire station). The house is located at 100 Higgins Canyon Road, Half Moon Bay.
Welcome to the James Johnston House
We look forward to welcoming you for free tours led by costumed docents on the following dates:
The third Saturday of each month (January through September 2024) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
January 20 February 17 March 16 April 20 May 18 June 15 July 20 August 17 September 21
It is closed October, November and December.
The James Johnston House sits on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, east of Route One, just south of the city of Half Moon Bay. Isolated, its silhouette is a remarkable sight against the rolling hillsides golden brown until the winter rains turns them green. The classic New England saltbox (two stories in front, one in back) was built by ’49er pioneer James Johnston between 1853-1855, for his Californiano bride, Petra Maria de Jara.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house has survived 150 years of weather, abandonment, vandalism and high winds and celebrated its sesquicentennial year in 2005.
History of the James Johnston House
Take a video tour of the Johnston house! Gail Stevens, Half Moon Bay History Association and Johnston House docent, takes us through the house room by room, telling its story and the story of the people who lived there. A guided glimpse into the past, mid 19th century, through the home of a multi-cultural, multi-lingual leading family on the Coastside. Tour conducted by Gail Stevens in August 2020.
Production Notes
Filmed mostly in August 2020.
Cameras: Rob Carey & Michelle Dragony.
Video edit: Rob Carey / Coastside Video.
Video edit assistance: Liane Brookhart.
Music is public domain, or approved for non-commercial use.
Copyright © 2020 Rob Carey & Coastside Video & other parties. Shared to Coastside Buzz with permission.
Coastside Video version 201230.
Contact: CoastsideVideo at gmail.com.
The Johnston House Foundation was formed in 1971 to protect, preserve, restore, and refurbish the James Johnston House and to promote the history of the Coastside and California.
JohnstonHouse.org
The Half Moon Bay History Association is dedicated to bringing together all members of the community to preserve and share the history of the San Mateo County Coastside.
HalfMoonBayHistory.org
Contact Information
The Johnston House may be contacted by mail at:
P.O. Box 789
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
You may call (650) 726-0329 to book special tours for groups at the house.
Or email us at [email protected]
Please contact us by any of the methods above to make a donation to the Johnston House Foundation, Inc.
