In 1835, Free Frank McWorter, a formerly enslaved man, paid $100 for 80 Illinois acres; a year later he founded New Philadelphia, and 191 years later nearly 20 acres entered NPS ownership

Nearly two centuries after a formerly enslaved pioneer bought 80 acres of Illinois prairie and founded the first legally registered town in the United States platted by an African American, nearly 20 acres of the historic townsite have officially been transferred to the National Park Service.According to the National Park Service, the land was donated by the nonprofit New Philadelphia Association and is an important addition to the New Philadelphia National Historic Site. Located near Barry in Pike County, the site protects the story of Free Frank McWorter, who established an integrated frontier community decades before the American Civil War. The acquisition protects important visitor facilities and historic land, helping preserve the story of self-emancipation, cooperation between Black and white residents, and pioneer determination for future generations.

From bondage to pioneer landownership

According to National Park Service historical information, New Philadelphia began with the determination of Frank McWorter, who was born into slavery in South Carolina in 1777. While living in Kentucky, McWorter was allowed to operate saltpetre mining businesses alongside his forced labor. By carefully saving his earnings, he was able to buy the freedom of his wife, Lucy, in 1817. He purchased his own freedom two years later. In 1830, McWorter moved his family to Illinois. According to historical accounts, Illinois allowed free Black people to purchase property under federal land laws, despite strict state limits on their civil rights. Five years later, in 1835, McWorter paid $100 for an 80-acre piece of federal land in rural Pike County. According to the National Park Service, McWorter saw an opportunity to build a town in the area. In 1836, he set aside 42 acres of his property and divided it into 144 residential and commercial lots. He then formally created the town of New Philadelphia. This made him the first African American in U.S. history known to legally establish and register a municipality.

A community built on lot sales

McWorter’s plans went beyond buying and selling land. According to the New Philadelphia National Historic Site, he designed the community as an integrated and affordable place where Black and white families could own property, run businesses, and educate their children. Money from the sale of town lots helped fund McWorter’s main goal: buying his family members out of slavery. According to historical records, McWorter used money from his Illinois land transactions to purchase the freedom of 16 relatives, including children, grandchildren, and his mother. The total cost was about $14,000. During the years before the Civil War, New Philadelphia also became part of the Underground Railroad. According to the National Park Service, the town’s location between the Mississippi and Illinois rivers allowed local residents to help enslaved people escaping from nearby Missouri as they travelled north toward Canada. By the late 1860s, the town had about 160 residents. Historical records show that the community included blacksmith shops, general stores, a wheelwright, and an integrated public school.

Railroad bypass, decline, and archaeological rediscovery

The decline of New Philadelphia followed a pattern seen in many Midwestern towns during the late 19th century. According to the National Park Service, the Hannibal and Naples Railroad bypassed the town in 1869 and instead built its tracks through nearby Barry. Without access to the new railroad, businesses and residents slowly moved away. By the 1920s, the town’s original buildings had disappeared, and the land had returned largely to agricultural use. Although the buildings were gone, much of New Philadelphia’s history remained underground. According to information from the New Philadelphia Association and archaeological researchers, local residents formed the association in the late 1990s to protect the historic site from highway construction and damage caused by farming. Archaeologists from the University of Illinois and other institutions later carried out major excavations. They found thousands of household objects, road remains, and building foundations. The discoveries helped lead to New Philadelphia being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. The site was later named a National Historic Landmark in 2009.

National park status and partnership milestones

According to the National Park Service, Congress officially added New Philadelphia to the National Park System in December 2022, making it the 424th unit of the system. Since then, federal officials have worked with local community groups to acquire important parcels within the park’s 124-acre boundary. The recent donation of nearly 20 acres by the New Philadelphia Association transfers ownership of the park’s main public access area. According to the National Park Service, the property includes an information kiosk, educational displays, accessible parking, and other cultural features created with help from local volunteers. New Philadelphia National Historic Site Superintendent Chris Collins said the partnership with the local association has been important to the park’s development. “This donation is an important step in protecting the resources and stories of New Philadelphia for the community and visitors,” Collins said. “Our partnership with the New Philadelphia Association has been essential to the park’s development. I am excited to continue working alongside our partners as we plan for the future of New Philadelphia National Historic Site.” With the land now under National Park Service ownership, federal officials are working on long-term plans for visitor education, improved trails, and archaeological preservation. According to the National Park Service, these efforts will help protect and explain Free Frank McWorter’s lasting legacy on the Illinois prairie.