The Five Historic Buildings

Five Historic Buildings

The five historic buildings represent the spirit of Nicodemus - church, self-government, education, home, and business. They illustrate the individual and collective strength of character and desire for freedom of these early pioneers who established Nicodemus - one of the oldest and most famous Black towns on the Great Plains.

The five historic buildings were declared the 355th unit of the National Park System on November 12, 1996. Nicodemus National Historic Site was signed into law by former President William J. Clinton.

 

Nicodemus Township Hall

NPS Photo

1) Nicodemus Township Hall - Self Government

Built in 1939 with support from the Depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) program using locally quarried limestone, the Township Hall served more than the needs of local government. The building was also used for commmunity events such as dances, theatre, live music, and the occasional roller skating party.

 

The St. Francis Hotel

NPS Photo

2) The St. Francis Hotel (Fletcher-Switzer Residence) - Business and Family life
This was not only a hotel, but also home to original owners Zachary T. and Jenny Fletcher. The Switzer family moved in during the 1920s. The hotel also served as the first town post office, the first school house, and a stagecoach station.The western wall of the building shows original limestone bricks that were brought over from Stockton, Kansas.

 

Historic First Baptist Church

NPS Photo

3) The Historic First Baptist Church
Starting in a dugout in 1877, the congregation continues to hold services today. As the congregation grew, the dugout was replaced by a prairie sod church, a small limestone structure in 1887, and in 1907, the present historic building. In 1975, a brick building to the north was constructed which holds services every Sunday.

 

African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church

NPS Photo

4) The African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church
The A.M.E. Church was first established in 1878 on another site and acquired the present building from the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in 1910. The A.M.E. church was fully restored and rededicated in 2021 and is open to the public during the day.

 

District Number 1 School

NPS Photo

5) District Number 1 School - Education
The first school was quickly established in the dugout of Zachary and Jenny Fletcher. Nicodemus residents established School District Number 1 in 1879, creating the first official school in Graham County, Kansas. A formal schoolhouse was constructed in 1887. It was later destroyed by fire and replaced by the present building in 1918.