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
- Visit the New Philadelphia Information Kiosk
- 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.
No current NPS alerts
The National Park Service has no active alerts listed for New Philadelphia National Historic Site. Conditions change quickly — check again before you go.
Source: National Park Service (as of Nov 11, 2026). Official New Philadelphia National Historic Site page on nps.gov
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.
Reservation rules vary by season and activity for New Philadelphia National Historic Site. See Overview on this page for fees, timed entry, and campground details before you travel.
