Legislation that would designate Quindaro Townsite as a National Historic Landmark is headed for its first congressional hearing this Wednesday before the House Committee on Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Federal Lands — a key step toward the bill becoming law.
The Quindaro Townsite National Historic Landmark Act was introduced by Reps. Derek Schmidt (KS-02), Sharice Davids (KS-03), and Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05). If enacted, the legislation would formally recognize Quindaro’s significance and support long-term preservation and interpretation of the site for generations to come.
Freedom’s Frontier has been a steadfast advocate for Quindaro and its conservation for nearly two decades. Located in Wyandotte County, Kansas, the townsite was founded amid the violence and upheaval of the Bleeding Kansas conflict. It became a hotbed of abolitionism and a vital entry point for freedom seekers along the Underground Railroad.
The hearing begins at 1:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, and will be streamed on YouTube.
Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) builds awareness of struggles for freedom in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Established by Congress in 2006, FFNHA covers a unique physical and cultural landscape across 41 counties and 31,000 square miles. It promotes three diverse, interwoven, and nationally significant stories: frontier settlement, the Missouri-Kansas Border War and Civil War, and enduring civil rights disputes. FFNHA inspires respect for multiple perspectives and empowers area residents to preserve and share these stories, achieving its goals through interpretation, preservation, conservation, and education for all residents and visitors. It is one of 62 federally recognized national heritage areas across the United States.