The Andrew Johnston House serves as the hub of the Historical Museum Complex. The home, built in 1829 of hand-formed brick, is a well-preserved Federal-style home, with fine details and pleasing proportions. It is an outstanding example of homes from it's period.

Structurally, the hand-laid brick walls are twenty-two inches thick at the base, tapering to fourteen inches at the second floor level. First-floor floor joists are logs a foot in diameter. Ten foot ceilings grace first floor rooms, while the seond floor ceilings are nine feet, six inches in height. The original pine floors, laid using hand-forged square nails, are still visible in some of the rooms. The windows were constructed of yellow locust, and show very little wear from their 150+ years of use. Handsome mantels surround the fireplaces. It is believed the kitchen was originally in the basement of the home, and meals would have been carried to the first-floor dining room through an outside entrance. The front of the house features a stately portico which is supported by two square and two Ionic columns.

Historically, the Andrew Johnston House has much to offer. For four days during the Civil War (May 6-10, 1862), the 23rd Ohio Regiment of the Union army used Dr. Johnston's office (built about 1857) as headquarters. The Regiment was commanded by Colonel Rutheford B. Hayes and Major William B. McKinley, who went on to become our nation's 19th and 25th presidents, respectively. A Presbyterian Church across the street served as a commissary. At 4:00 AM the morning of May 19, 1862, Confederate troops led by General Heth took the Union troops by suprise in the Battle of Pearisburg. Two men from each side were killed and several others were injured. Many of these were treated in the 1836 Courthouse which served as a hospital. Five Confederate soldiers are buried in the Angel's Rest Cemetery nearby. After the retreat of the Union troops, Annie (Dr. Johnston's wife) hurried to the office to retrieve a bag left by the fleeing troops. While she thought the bag contained coffee, she was sadly disappointed to find the bag only held corn for the horses.