Nicodemus

Nicodemus National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior National Historic Site Kansas The Emancipation Celebration held each July honors the people of Nicodemus, past and present. African American Home on the Frontier This northwestern Kansas town—barely a few dozen buildings—tells us first-hand stories of the African American experience on the Great Plains. Founded in 1877, it was the first western town built by and for black settlers. For black farmers in the region, it was the economic and cultural hub for many decades. After the Civil War, blacks in the South found that the political and economic gains of Reconstruction were being violently stripped away. Some looked westward, but, because racial tensions extended to the frontier, the idea of an all-black settlement took hold. The Nicodemus Town Company was formed by W.H. Smith and five other African American men, and W.R. Hill, a white land developer. In September 1877, some 300 settlers recruited from Kentucky arrived at the newly platted town of Nicodemus. Like their white counterparts elsewhere on the frontier, they lived in primitive conditions. Newcomers were shaken by the spectacle of homes dug into the ground. Sixty people returned to Kentucky immediately. By the mid-1880s, hard-working, strong-willed settlers transformed Nicodemus into a prosperous town. Lasting prosperity on the Great Plains, though, depended on the presence of a railroad line. Despite the tireless efforts of town boosters, the nearest railroad ran several miles south. The town began a gradual decline. Nicodemus suffered along with the rest of the nation during the Great Depression in the 1930s. In 1976 the original 161-acre town was listed as a National Historic Landmark District. In 1996 Congress established Nicodemus National Historic Site. The National Park Service and the residents of Nicodemus work together to preserve five remaining historic structures—the St. Francis Hotel (1878), African Methodist Episcopal Church (1897), First Baptist Church (1907), Nicodemus School District No. 1 building (1918), and Nicodemus Township Hall (1939). Nicodemus National Historic Site preserves a living community that includes descendants of the original emigrants who answered the call of free land and a limitless future. 'That is Nicodemus.' The families lived in dugouts... The scenery was not at all inviting, and I began to cry. Willianna Hickman recalling her arrival at Nicodemus, Spring 1878 As at Nicodemus, many 19th-century Great Plains settlers lived in homes dug out of the ground. Town residents gather at a gas station near Nicodemus, 1920s. UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA LIBRARY COURTESY NICODEMUS HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTION, KANSAS UNIVERSITY Despite the arrival of mechanized equipment, farming was always difficult in the region. Top: Promoters made wildly optimistic promises to attract settlers. Discovering the Spirit of Nicodemus Planning Your Visit Things to Do The park is open year-round except January 1, Thanksgiving, and December 25. Stop first at the visitor center in the 1939 Township Hall, where you will find exhibits, a brief audiovisual program, and an information desk staffed by park rangers. A self-guiding tour leads you to the historic buildings: the school, old First Baptist Church, St. Francis Hotel, A.M.E. Church, and Township Hall. Most property is privately owned; please respect owners' privacy. Ranger-led walking tours can be arranged in advance; call 785-839-4233. Emancipation Celebration The National Park Service works together with town residents to preserve and interpret Nicodemus. Most of the 25 or so residents trace their roots to the town's founders. Every summer hundreds of other descendants return to renew family ties and celebrate their heritage during the town's Emancipation Celebration. The event is held the last weekend in July and is open to the public. Getting to the Park The park is in northwestern Kansas. From eastbound I-70: exit at Colby and take U.S. 24 east for 81 miles to Nicodemus. From westbound I-70: exit at Hays and take U.S. 183 to Stockton; turn left (west) onto U.S. 24 and go 19 miles. The visitor center is at the east end of town, one block south of U.S. 24. More Information Nicodemus National Historic Site is one of more than 380 parks in the National Park System. For more on national parks and National Park Service programs in America's communities, visit www.nps.gov. Nicodemus National Historic Site 304 Washington Ave. Nicodemus, KS 67625 785-839-4321 www.nps.gov/nico Township Hall, constructed in 1939 (inset), is n o w the park's visitor center. Top: Nicodemus in its early years. Below: The original t o w n s h i p plat is clearly visible in this 1953 photograph. *GPO:2006—320-369/00575 Printed on recycled paper Nicodemus National Historic Site