New Philadelphia National Historic Site
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New Philadelphia National Historic Site at a glance
- Best time
- March–May, October–November
- Trip length
- 2–4 hours to 1 day
- Don't miss
- Historic grounds and interpretive exhibits at New Philadelphia National Historic Site
- Nearby city
- Barry, IL
Explore this park
About 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.
Weather Information
Temperatures at our site can range from 0°F (-18°C)
- Summer
can be very humid, with intense sun, rainstorms, thunderstorms possible.
- Winter
to 95°F (35°C) or warmer
in the summer. Snow and occasional blizzard conditions are possible in the winter. Please dress appropriately for potential weather conditions and plan ahead.
Operating Hours
Operating Hours
The site is open to the public with no scheduled operating hours.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Common questions
Planning New Philadelphia National Historic Site
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics.
New Philadelphia National Historic Site has Recreation.gov reservations including Steamtown National Historic Site and Steamtown National Historic Site Tours. Confirm current rules on Recreation.gov and the Permits tab before travel.
See Permits tab →
