NEW PHILADELPHIA HISTORY FEATURED IN CHICAGO PROGRAM

NEW PHILADELPHIA — A historic Pike County, Illinois site received attention in Chicago this week during a special program highlighting its legacy.

The event, titled “Land Holds the Truth: Free Frank McWorter and the Freedom Story of New Philadelphia,” was presented by Gerald McWorter, also known as Abdul Alkalimat. The discussion focused on the history and national significance of New Philadelphia, the first town in the United States founded and legally registered by an African American.

The program was held at Gallery Guichard in Chicago and also marked the official launch of a fundraising campaign aimed at purchasing roughly 80 acres of land that were once part of the original town site.

Today, New Philadelphia is recognized as a National Historic Site and is managed as part of the National Park Service system.

McWorter, a professor emeritus of African American Studies at the University of Illinois, emphasized the importance of preserving the site and sharing its story with a wider audience.