CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that the National Park Service officially designated Quindaro Townsite as a National Historic Landmark. While the National Historic Landmark Committee voted unanimously to recommend NHL designation for Quindaro to the full National Park System Advisory Board on Thursday – a key step in the NHL designation process – we would like to clarify that recommendation alone does not confer official landmark status.
The final decision to designate a property as a National Historic Landmark is made by the Secretary of the Interior. Recommendations from the Advisory Board are an important step, but designation is not finalized until approved and officially designated by Secretary Doug Burgum.
We apologize for any confusion and appreciate the opportunity to correct the record.
Washington, D.C. — The National Historic Landmark Committee voted unanimously today to recommend Quindaro Townsite’s National Historic Landmark designation to the full National Park System Advisory Board, recognizing its critical role in the fight for freedom, education, and equality in the United States. The recommendation acknowledges Quindaro’s importance as a key stop on the Underground Railroad and as a thriving 19th-century free Black community.
Quindaro, located in present-day Kansas City, Kansas, emerged in the 1850s as a beacon of resistance against the expansion of slavery during a pivotal era of American history. Founded by both Black and white abolitionists, the settlement offered a safe haven for formerly enslaved individuals and became a vital point of entry into free territory. The town later became home to institutions like Western University, the first Black university west of the Mississippi River.
The recommendation is a key step toward National Historic Landmark designation. Once a site is recommended for designation by the National Park System Advisory Board, the recommendation is submitted to the Secretary of the Interior. Final approval of Quindaro’s NHL status and formal recognition of the site’s historical significance now rests with Secretary Doug Burgum.
“This designation is a profound recognition of the generations who lived, struggled, and persevered in Quindaro,” said Lucinda Adams, Executive Director of Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area. “It ensures that this sacred ground is preserved for future generations to learn from and be inspired by.”
National Historic Landmarks are buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that have been determined to be nationally significant in American history and culture by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. The designation would bring national attention and potential resources to help preserve the site, which includes ruins, interpretive trails, and the Quindaro Overlook. Advocates have long fought for increased protection and recognition of the site’s historical significance, emphasizing its role in African American heritage and American civil rights history.
“This is more than a designation; it’s a long-overdue acknowledgment of Quindaro’s place in the national narrative,” said the Honorable Karen Arnold-Burger, Vice Chair of the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area Board of Trustees. “It reinforces our commitment to preserving and sharing stories that have too often been forgotten.”
With this status, Quindaro would join an elite list of landmarks recognized for their exceptional value to the nation’s heritage. The designation would help ensure the continued preservation and educational interpretation of the site for generations to come.
For more information about Quindaro and news about potential landmark designation, please visit freedomsfrontier.org.