A new national park in west-central Illinois invites visitors to enjoy the exquisite landscape and rich history of the area. The New Philadelphia National Historic Site became a national park in December, but its significance dates back to the 1800s.
Frank McWorter, a formerly enslaved man from Kentucky, founded New Philadelphia in 1836, making it the first known town planned and legally registered by an African American. According to the New Philadelphia Association, with his earnings and the help of his wife, Lucy, McWorter purchased the freedom of 16 enslaved family members, including himself. He freed Lucy first so their next child would be born free.
See more: New Philadelphia, Illinois’ Newest National Park, Brings Energy to An Inspiring Historic Site
The town flourished for years until a railroad bypassed it, and it became an informal settlement in 1885. Thanks to archeological discoveries, historical documents, oral histories and other artifacts, the town’s story perseveres, furthering the understanding of rural abolitionist communities settled by African Americans and European Americans in the antebellum era.
Now, Illinois’ newest national park, New Philadelphia is also on the National Register of Historic Places, a designated National Historic Landmark and part of the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. At present, the site includes augmented reality stations you can use with your smartphone. For more information, visit nps.gov/places/new-philadelphia-nhs.htm.
See more: Walking Through History Along the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail
Hi.
Do you know how to contact the descendents of Frank McWorter?
You can contact the historic site here and they can probably put you in touch: http://nps.gov/neph/index.htm or (314) 435-3138
If you go the New Philadelphia Association website at http://newphiladelphiail.org, you’ll find contact info at the bottom.