Archaeological site and open-air heritage landscape commemorating the first town legally founded by a free African American before the Civil War.

General Information

Hours:

Open daily, 24 hours a day
Grounds and ¼-mile walking trail accessible year-round
No indoor facilities or restrooms available

Fees:

Admission is free; no reservations or passes required

Pet Policy:

Pets are welcome on leash (6 ft max); please clean up after your pet

Closest cities with hotels:

Barry, IL and Hannibal, MO

Seasons:

All year; best visited in Spring and Fall for mild weather and trail conditions

Location:

297s://www.nps.gov/neph/index.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">nps.gov/neph

How to Get There

From Springfield, IL (77 mi): Take I-72 W to Exit 31 for IL-106 W toward Barry; continue west on IL-106, then turn south on County Highway 4 and follow signs to the site entrance on 306 Lane.

Overview

The New Philadelphia National Historic Site preserves the legacy of a groundbreaking American settlement founded in 1836 by Free Frank McWorter, a formerly enslaved man who purchased his freedom and that of 15 family members. As the first town legally established by an African American before the Civil War, New Philadelphia became a rare example of a racially integrated community on the Illinois frontier. Though the town eventually declined and disappeared from maps, its story endures through archaeological research and public interpretation.

Today, visitors to the site can walk a ¼-mile trail through the open prairie, guided by interpretive signs and an augmented reality tour that brings the town’s history to life. With no buildings remaining, the landscape itself becomes a canvas for storytelling—revealing the resilience, innovation, and hope that defined New Philadelphia. Managed by the National Park Service in partnership with local organizations, the site offers a quiet but powerful experience that honors a pivotal chapter in the American journey toward freedom and equality.

< class="third-party-img">This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the New Philadelphia National Historic Site, which are released under the https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.