New Philadelphia National Historic Site: A Landmark of Freedom and Community in Pike County, Illinois

The New Philadelphia National Historic Site in Pike County, Illinois, has recently gained wider national prominence as one of the newest units of the U.S. National Park Service — a historic milestone for local residents, descendants, and scholars alike.

Located just two miles east of Barry, Illinois, this site preserves the story of New Philadelphia, the first known town in the United States platted and legally registered by an African American, Free Frank McWorter, in 1836 — more than 25 years before the Civil War.

A Vision of Freedom and Community

Free Frank McWorter was born into slavery in South Carolina in 1777 and later lived in Kentucky, where he earned money through mining and other work while still enslaved. With significant effort and determination, he purchased freedom first for his wife, Lucy, and later for himself and many family members.

After securing his family’s freedom, McWorter moved west to Illinois — a free state — and purchased land in Pike County. In 1836, he formally platted a town known as New Philadelphia, selling lots to both Black and white settlers. The town was remarkable for its racial integration and cooperative spirit at a time when most communities across the United States were deeply segregated.

New Philadelphia grew into a bustling frontier community with homes, farms, a school, businesses, and civic life. It also played a role in the Underground Railroad, helping people escape the bonds of slavery.

Decline and Rediscovery

Despite early promise, the town’s fortunes waned after the railroad bypassed it in 1869, routing commerce and travel through nearby communities and leaving New Philadelphia increasingly isolated. By the late 19th century, most residents had moved on, and the town eventually faded back into the landscape. What remained of the community — its streets, buildings, and daily life — was gradually lost under farmland and prairie soil.

Recognition and Preservation

Interest in the town’s history began to grow in the late 20th century, driven by descendants of the McWorter family and local advocates who believed the site deserved recognition. Archaeologists from universities in Illinois and Maryland conducted major studies of the area in the early 2000s, unearthing artifacts and documenting the town’s layout and significance.

In the years since:

• 2005 — The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

• 2009 — It was designated a National Historic Landmark, acknowledging its importance to American history.

• 2013 — The site was included in the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

• 2022 — Congress and the President officially established the area as the New Philadelphia National Historic Site under the National Park Service.

This new designation ensures permanent protection of the site and promises expanded opportunities for education, interpretation, and public engagement. National Park Service planners are now working with local partners — including nonprofit groups like the New Philadelphia Association — to develop visitor services, historical interpretation, and ways to share this remarkable story with wider audiences.

Legacy and Importance

More than just a historic landmark, New Philadelphia represents a powerful story of freedom, entrepreneurship, community building, and interracial cooperation on the frontier long before the Civil War. It highlights the agency and vision of African Americans like Free Frank McWorter and his family — not only in seeking freedom for themselves but in creating a place where others could live, work, and belong together.

As a new national historic site, New Philadelphia offers visitors a chance to connect with a rich chapter of American history that enriches our understanding of race, community, and liberty in the early 19th century — and to ensure that this legacy is never forgotten.