A grassy field surrounded by forest under a sunny sky with large white clouds.
View of New Philadelphia National Historic Site on a sunny day. NPS Photo

New Philadelphia National Historic Site

National Historic Site · Illinois · National Park Service

To a casual observer, New Philadelphia looked like a typical Illinois pioneer town. But a closer look revealed a unique and racially diverse community. New Philadelphia was the first US town platted and registered by an African American. A formerly enslaved man, Free Frank McWorter, founded New Philadelphia in 1836 and purchased freedom for himself and 15 family members.

Plan your visit

Know before you go

Phone
217-492-4241
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

Things to do

Highlights: African American Heritage · Archeology · Colonization and Settlement · Commerce · Enslavement · Social Movements · Abolition Movement · Westward Expansion

Activities & features: Guided Tours

Photos

  • Four interpretive panels mounted under a covered, open-sided kiosk overlooking a prairie landscape.
    NPS Photo
  • A mowed path through prairie. There are numbered signs along the trail.
    NPS
  • Twenty children of mixed ages and genders posing for the camera in front of a schoolhouse.
    Courtesy of Gerald McWorter and Kate Williams McWorter.
  • Historic black and white photo of an African American woman seated looking past the camera.
    Courtesy of Pamela and Sheena Franklin

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62 parks mapped in Illinois

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Guides for the trip

All guides →

Sources: National Park Service, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12