Park Passport

New Philadelphia National Historic Site IL

Lat, Long: 39.69803, -90.96131

Designation: National Historic Site

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.

Weather:

Temperatures at our site can range from 0°F (-18°C) in the winter to 95°F (35°C) or warmer in the summer. Summers can be very humid, with intense sun, rainstorms, thunderstorms possible. Snow and occasional blizzard conditions are possible in the winter. Please dress appropriately for potential weather conditions and plan ahead.

Directions:

New Philadelphia National Historic Site is in rural western Illinois between the Mississippi and Illinois rivers near Interstate 72. The site can be reached by turning onto 306th Lane from County Highway 2. An informational kiosk is immediately on the left after turning onto 306th Lane. The small city of Barry lies two miles west and has the nearest services. Hannibal, Missouri, is 27 miles west. Springfield, Illinois, is 76 miles east. St. Louis lies about 115 miles south.

For more details ›

Address/Contact:

Corner of 306th Lane and County Highway 2

Barry, US, 62312

Phone: (402) 661-1520

Email: mwr_communications@nps.gov

Entrance Fees:

A grassy field surrounded by forest under a sunny sky with large white clouds.Four interpretive panels mounted under a covered, open-sided kiosk overlooking a prairie landscape.A mowed path through prairie. There are numbered signs along the trail.Twenty children of mixed ages and genders posing for the camera in front of a schoolhouse.Historic black and white photo of an African American woman seated looking past the camera.