Nicodemus National Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nicodemus National Historic Site |
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 Nicodemus National Historic Site
Location in Kansas
Nicodemus National Historic Site
Location in the United States
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| Location | Nicodemus, Kansas, United States |
| Nearest city | Nicodemus, Kansas |
| Area | 161 acres (65 ha) |
| Established | November 12, 1996 |
| Visitors | 28,065 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Nicodemus National Historic Site |
Nicodemus National Historic Site is a special place in Nicodemus, Kansas, United States. It helps us remember and protect the only remaining town in the American West started by African Americans. This happened after the American Civil War, during a time called the Reconstruction Period. The town of Nicodemus shows the brave spirit of African Americans. They left their homes to find personal freedom and new chances to use their talents. The site's name might come from a legendary African-American slave. This slave was featured in a song from 1864, asking to be awakened on the Day of Jubilee, a day of freedom.
Contents
Historic Buildings at Nicodemus
The historic site has five important buildings that you can visit:
- Township Hall (This building now has a temporary visitor center)
- African Methodist Episcopal Church
- First Baptist Church
- St. Francis Hotel
- Nicodemus School District #1 Schoolhouse
The Story of Nicodemus
Founding a New Home
Nicodemus was founded in 1877. It was led by Rev. W.H. Smith, a black minister, and W.R. Hill, a white land developer. Five other black men also helped create the Nicodemus Town Company. They visited churches in Kentucky to encourage people to move to Kansas.
Kansas was known as a "free state." This meant slavery was not allowed there. It was also part of the Underground Railroad, a secret network that helped slaves escape to freedom. A famous person who fought against slavery, John Brown, also lived in Kansas. The company handed out flyers that called Nicodemus a place for "African Americans to establish a black self-government."
Growing the Town
By the mid-1880s, Nicodemus was a busy little town. It had two newspapers and three general stores. There were also at least three churches. The town had small hotels, an ice cream parlor, a bank, and many homes. At its busiest time, about 700 people lived there.
Challenges and Changes
For the town to keep growing, it needed a railroad. The people of Nicodemus tried many times to get a rail line to their town. But their efforts did not work. The railroad ended up passing to the south of Nicodemus. Over time, some people moved closer to the railway. They started a new town called Bogue.
Famous Residents
One of Nicodemus's most famous residents is Veryl Switzer. He was an amazing football player for Kansas State from 1951 to 1953. He later played for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he returned to play for the Packers. He also played for teams in the Canadian Football League before he retired.
Today, Veryl Switzer farms 840 acres (about 3.4 square kilometers) in Nicodemus. He is also a main investor in a plan to build a flour mill there. A co-op was formed in 1999. While "Promised Land Flour" and "Nicodemus Pancake Mix" are sold, the flour mill itself has not yet been built.
Remembering the Past
Many descendants of the original settlers still live in Nicodemus today. In 1976, Nicodemus was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important place in American history. It became a National Historic Site by an Act of Congress in 1996. This helps protect the town and its history for everyone to learn from.
See also
Images for kids
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St Francis Hotel
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African Methodist Episcopal Church
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Nicodemus Township School
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First Baptist Church
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Township Hall
