Explore the Johnson’s Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site through self-guided exploration and guided tours. Interpretive signage and guided experiences help visitors discover one of the nation’s best-preserved Civil War prisoner-of-war landscapes. Learn how archaeologists and historians have reconstructed the layout of the prison compound, including its 15-foot-high stockade, twelve prisoner barracks, hospital, and support buildings, which once held thousands of Confederate officers during the Civil War.

Visitors can also explore the remains of Fort Johnson and learn how the island’s strategic location in Sandusky Bay made it the site of the Union’s only prison camp built specifically for Confederate officers. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark, Johnson’s Island preserves an extraordinary archaeological record that continues to reveal the daily lives of prisoners and guards alike.