Nicodemus National Historic Site
National Historic Site · KS
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.
- NPS site
- nps.gov/nico
- Location
- Nicodemus National Historic Site (39.392, -99.617)
Track your visit to Nicodemus National Historic Site
NP Tracker keeps a record of every National Park Service unit you visit — all 430-plus of them. Log visits with dates and photos, collect passport stamps, plan trips, and watch your map fill in. It's free.
Passport stamp locations
- Township Hall
- Township Hall and Visitor Center
Hours
Park Hourstoday: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sat Oct 39:00AM - 5:00PM
- Sun Oct 49:00AM - 5:00PM
- Mon Oct 59:00AM - 5:00PM
- Tue Oct 6Closed
- Wed Oct 7Closed
- Thu Oct 89:00AM - 5:00PM
- Fri Oct 99:00AM - 5:00PM
Upcoming closures: Nov 26 (Thanksgiving)
The Nicodemus Township Hall and visitor center is open year-round for five (5) days of the week, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Visitor center hours are 9 am to 5 pm central time. The grounds are open 24 hours a day. The visitor center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year Day.
Hours are retrieved from the National Park Service and can change without notice — check the official site before you go.
Visitor centers
3
- Temporary Building Closurehours not postedDirections
- Temporary Building Closurehours not postedDirections
- Township Hall and Visitor Centertoday: 9:00AM - 5:00PMDirections
Self-guided tours
2
Audio Tour of the Town20–45 minutes · 6 stops
Learn about the living community of Nicodemus as you explore the oldest living African American settlement west of the Mississippi. The audio tour route is about .6 miles (1 kilometer). The route follows flat paved and dirt roads and can also be traveled by car, bicycle, and covered wagon. This is an extension of the self-guided Nicodemus Walking Tour brochure. Please be mindful of cars on the road and do not trespass on private property.
Nicodemus Township History Trail1–2 hours · 14 stops
This guided tour takes you through the greater township of Nicodemus to explore the areas homesteaded by the original settlers of the Nicodemus colony. The signs, provided by the Nicodemus Historical Society, inform you about the different areas that you encounter. Most of the roads in the township are narrow dirt roads so use caution when following the tour. NOTE: This tour covers miles of roads throughout the greater township. This is not the tour in town and should NOT be walked.
Entrance fees
No entrance fee.