New Philadelphia National Historic Site Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Alabama (Mr. Carl) for yielding and for his terrific work on the Natural Resources Committee, and I thank the majority and Chairman Grijalva for their support.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bipartisan bill, H.R. 820, the New Philadelphia National Historic Site Act.

Located in West Central Illinois, near the Missouri border, in Barry, Illinois, is New Philadelphia. Founded in 1836 by Frank McWorter, this was the first town founded, platted, and registered by an African American in the United States.

Once an enslaved person himself, Mr. Frank McWorter also known as ``Free Frank,'' bought his freedom. Mr. McWorter went on in his life and in his legacy to establish New Philadelphia, but also to demonstrate the critical role many African Americans played in their own freedom efforts.

Through the sale of land in New Philadelphia, among other business ventures, Free Frank used his earnings to free 15 other family members out of slavery. Additionally, many of the residents of New Philadelphia, both European Americans and African Americans, later came together to assist freedom-seekers moving north from slave-occupied States and locations.

The 40-acre original townsite is now nationally and historically significant. It is an archaeological site, advancing our understanding of free, rural communities and the abolitionist movement in the antebellum area.

The New Philadelphia site has already been recognized for its historical significance. It is currently on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a National Historic Landmark. The site is also included in the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program, and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History displays many of the artifacts unearthed from the area near New Philadelphia.

This bipartisan bill would establish the New Philadelphia National Historical Park in the State of Illinois as a unit of the National Park System.

Many local and regional organizations have worked tirelessly for many years to preserve and protect this site and they deserve so much credit. One organization in particular, the New Philadelphia Association, has done a tremendous job in improving, maintaining, and endorsing the site for the benefit of New Philadelphia descendants, those living in the surrounding community, and those visiting from afar. I am delighted to be here tonight to assist their efforts and support the continued advocacy of many of my engaged constituents on this issue.

Including New Philadelphia in the National Park System would provide certainty and ensure its continued preservation far into the future. The National Park Service will be able to provide the tools, resources, and expertise necessary to elevate the site to its fullest potential.

It is imperative that sites like New Philadelphia are preserved for years to come, so that future generations can better understand their important history as well as the lessons that history provides us.

In closing, I thank the Natural Resources Committee for supporting this important piece of legislation, and I urge the adoption of the bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source