Next stop was at Nicodemus, the first black settlement in Kansas. Wanting to own land, Affican American settlers, some former slaves founded the town in 1877. The town was named after the biblical figure Nicodemus, who helped prepare Jesus’ body for burial.
Furthermore, despite the town’s decline over the years, it remains as a symbol of African American resilience and self-determination. The National Park Service designated Nicodemus a National Historic Site in 1996. This gave the town the recongnition it deserved for its significance in American history.
Efforts are being made to preserve and interpret the town’s history, including the Nicodemus National Historic Site Visitor Center. The only information I could find was on some outdoor signs as to my disappointment the visitor center was closed when I was there.
