Nicodemus National Historic Site
Formerly enslaved African Americans left Kentucky at the end of the post-Civil War Reconstruction period to experience freedom in the "Promised Land" of Kansas. Nicodemus represents the involvement of African Americans in the homesteading movement across the Great Plains. It is the oldest remaining Black settlement west of the Mississippi River.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| Park Hours | Varies by day ▾
|
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow |
|
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving |
|
| Dec 25, 2026Christmas Day | Closed |
| Jan 1, 2027New Year's Day | Closed |
| Jun 19, 2027Juneteenth |
|
When to go
July draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Township Hall and Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
The visitor center is open year-round for five (5) days of the week. We are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year Day. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm central time
- Temporary Building Closure
The Township Hall, including park store and bathrooms, will be temporarily closed until September 12. Visitor operations will be run in a mobile visitor center in front of the building during usual business hours, Thursday through Monday, 9am to 5pm. Portable toilets are available for visitors.
- Temporary Building Closure
The Township Hall, including park store and bathrooms, will be temporarily closed until September 12. Visitor operations will be run in a mobile visitor center in front of the building during usual business hours, Thursday through Monday, 9am to 5pm. Portable toilets are available for visitors.
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
- Park Ranger Programs25-55 Minutes
Discover the vibrant history and community of Nicodemus through ranger programs! Request a guided tour of the town, plan a field trip with your school or group, or keep an eye out for special events throughout the year.
Opens on the Park Service site - Picnicking at Nicodemus
Picnic areas are available at Nicodemus with picnic tables, sun shelters, grills, and water.
Opens on the Park Service site - Photography and Art
Taking photos in Kansas? What's even out there? Nicodemus has plenty of landscapes, buildings, wildlife, and skies that you will want to capture with photos.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
On the National Register nearby
- St. Joseph Catholic ChurchBuilding · Damar · 5.3 mi
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.
Kansas guidebooks
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Activities
Weather & climate
Northwest Kansas has a four-season climate typified by long, hot summers, cold winters, short spring and fall seasons, and a nearly constant breeze. Humidity is relatively low compared to the eastern portion of the state. Afternoon thunderstorms with lightning, hail, and gusty winds frequently occur during the spring and summer. Tornados are possible but are less common in Kansas than they are in several other states. Snow accumulation from winter blizzards occasionally causes site to close.
Questions people ask
Does Nicodemus charge an entrance fee?
No. Nicodemus is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Nicodemus?
Standard hours are 9:00AM - 5:00PM on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and it is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
How busy is Nicodemus?
6,644 recreation visits in 2025, number 367 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Nicodemus?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE. No reported coverage for Verizon and T-Mobile. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
When was Nicodemus established?
1996. It covers about 0.3 square miles.
Source: Wikipedia
What is the weather like at Nicodemus?
Northwest Kansas has a four-season climate typified by long, hot summers, cold winters, short spring and fall seasons, and a nearly constant breeze. Humidity is relatively low compared to the eastern portion of the state.
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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