“New Philadelphia is a site of national importance as the first town known to be founded and platted by an African American. Platted in 1836 by Frank McWorter, a former slave, New Philadelphia thrived as a biracial community during a period of extreme racial tension.”

- Barack Obama, writing as U.S. Senator

New Philadelphia, Illinois was an abolitionist town just 20 miles from slavery, inhabited for more than 100 years. Town founder Frank McWorter bought a total of 16 family members out of slavery, starting with his pregnant wife. Thanks to the efforts of local activists and others, New Philadelphia has been recognized:

1988 Frank McWorter gravesite on the National Register of Historic Places

2002-2011 Archaeological dig funded by the National Science Foundation

2009 National Historic Landmark

2013 National Park Service Network to Freedom

2017 In the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and National Museum of African American History and Culture

2018 Under study to become a National Park