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.

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.

Schoolchildren at the New Philadelphia School, October 1925.

Schoolchildren

Visitors can take a self-guided ¼-mile-long walking tour of the site using an augmented virtual reality app managed by the New Philadelphia Association. The app is available to download for electronic handheld devices, cost-free, at the kiosk.

Walking Tour

A kiosk houses several informational panels at New Philadelphia National Historic Site.

Kiosk

View of New Philadelphia National Historic Site on a sunny day.

Perseverance and Freedom on the Illinois Frontier

Lucy McWorter, Free Frank McWorter’s wife, 1800s.

New Philadelphia National Historic Site

Directions

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