National Historic Landmark

Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site

Danbury, Ottawa County, Ohio
Listed
March 26, 1975
Type
Site
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
75001514

About this property

Johnson's Island is a 300-acre (120 ha) island in Sandusky Bay, located on the coast of Lake Erie, 3 miles (4.8 km) from the city of Sandusky, Ohio. It was the site of a prisoner-of-war camp for Confederate officers captured during the American Civil War. Initially, Johnson's Island was the only Union prison camp exclusively for Confederate officers but eventually it held privates, political prisoners, persons sentenced to court martial, and spies. Civilians who were arrested as guerrillas, or bushwhackers, were also imprisoned on the island. During its three years of operation, more than 15,000 men were incarcerated there. The island was named after L. B. Johnson, the owner of the island beginning about 1852. It was initially named 'Bull's Island' around 1809 by its first owner, Epaphras W. Bull (later misspelled "Epaproditus" Bull, by local historians.)

Location

Danbury, Ottawa County, Ohio
41.49983, -82.73093

Categories

HISTORIC - NON-ABORIGINALMILITARY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site

This page lists Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

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Questions about this property

When was Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site listed on the National Register?

Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 26, 1975.

What type of historic resource is Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site?

Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site?

The period of significance for Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site is recorded as the civil_war era.

Can I research the history near Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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