The John Brown Heritage Association (JBHA) is a private, nonprofit organization whose origins go back to 1916. The Association owns the site where John Brown in 1826 established a tannery in the village of New Richmond, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The site contains remnants from the tannery that Brown built. The JBHA keeps the site open year round for the public to visit.

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John Brown would go on to become famous for his 1859 raid on the U.S. armory and arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia), as part of a grand plan he devised to overthrow slavery in the South. The raid failed, and Brown was tried, convicted and executed by Virginia authorities. The raid led to intense national debate about the continued legitimacy of slavery in America, including whether Brown should be seen as an abolitionist martyr, a dangerous extremist or something in between those opposing viewpoints. Today, many historians believe the controversy over John Brown and the Harpers Ferry raid notably quickened the onset of the American Civil War.

The John Brown Heritage Association exists to preserve the tannery site as a historic place. The JBHA also seeks to understand, research and interpret John Brown as a historic figure in the abolition of slavery, the lead-up to the Civil War and the advancement of racial equality in America. We welcome you to explore this website and learn more about the many facets of John Brown’s legacy.