New Philadelphia National Historic Site
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.
About 1.5 hours from St. Louis by car.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| Operating Hours | Daily · All Day |
No campgrounds, no webcams or events in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
Things to do
- Find Flowers and Butterflies in Lucy's Garden5-20 Minutes
New Philadelphia buzzes to life in Lucy’s Butterfly Garden! The wildflowers in this garden represent the types of plants that greeted the McWorters when they arrived. Today, bright flowers greet many native butterflies, moths, and bees.
Opens on the Park Service site - Go Birding at New Philadelphia1-4 Hours
Birds provide a living link to the past in New Philadelphia. Forest and field habitats continue to shelter many species that graced – and inspired – the McWorters.
Opens on the Park Service site - Take a Self-Guided Augmented Reality Tour!30-45 Minutes
Today, few hints of life in New Philadelphia remain above ground. Peek into the past with the New Philadelphia Association’s augmented reality app! Download the free app onto your mobile device.
Opens on the Park Service site - Visit the New Philadelphia Information Kiosk5-20 Minutes
Start your experience at the Information Kiosk. Brochures and basic information are available here. Allow yourself at least a few minutes to explore exhibits that introduce you to the town’s history. The Information Kiosk is open all hours, daily.
Opens on the Park Service site
News
- New Philadelphia National Historic Site Receives $25,000 Grant to Launch Community Storytelling Programs ↗2026-07-02
New Philadelphia National Historic Site has received a $25,000 grant from Jefferson National Parks Association’s BlueSky Opportunity Fund to support a new community-driven interpretation initiative, “Our Past, Our…
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Illinois guidebooks
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
Weather & climate
Temperatures at our site can range from 0°F (-18°C) in the winter to 95°F (35°C) or warmer in the summer. Summers can be very humid, with intense sun, rainstorms, thunderstorms possible. Snow and occasional blizzard conditions are possible in the winter. Please dress appropriately for potential weather conditions and plan ahead.
Questions people ask
Does New Philadelphia charge an entrance fee?
No. New Philadelphia is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
Is New Philadelphia open year-round?
Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Source: National Park Service
Is there cell service at New Philadelphia?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
When was New Philadelphia established?
2022.
Source: Wikipedia
What is the weather like at New Philadelphia?
Temperatures at our site can range from 0°F (-18°C) in the winter to 95°F (35°C) or warmer in the summer. Summers can be very humid, with intense sun, rainstorms, thunderstorms possible.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
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