New Philadelphia National Historic Site

In 1836, the small village of New Philadelphia in west central Illinois was founded by Frank McWorter. This was not an unusual occurrence in the 19th century, when hundreds of rural communities sprang up throughout the U.S. But New Philadelphia was unique – it was the first American town founded and legally registered by an African American.

Although it no longer exists today, the story of this remarkable pioneer town has been commemorated as one of the nation’s newest National Park Service sites, becoming New Philadelphia National Historic Site in late 2022.

Frank McWorter (known as Free Frank) and his wife Lucy were a formerly enslaved couple from Kentucky who went west in search of freedom and independence. They used their saved earnings to purchase 15 family members out of slavery and were joined by others – both black and white – who migrated to the town. By 1865, its racially diverse population peaked at 100 residents. and the town became a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Over the ensuing decades, New Philadelphia declined, and its buildings were buried under farmland. But historical documents, oral histories, archeological research, and local groups have kept the town's story alive. And though there are few visitor amenities on the site today, NPS has plans to develop programs and facilities to bring New Philadelphia back to life.