Nicodemus National Historic Site — Attraction in Hill City

This place is incredibly cool. Every time I come through this area I'm unfortunately always in a rush to get somewhere and don't have much time to spend looking around, but I'm a huge history fanatic and fascinated with the history of this town and its story. I've been dying to come out and spend some real time here and check everything out. Having done quite a bit of research on the place since I first came through about 4 years ago, I've been very intrigued by it. Just today I've found out that you're able to visit the various historical buildings and I'm very excited to do that in the hopefully near future! There's a huge, wall-sized TV in the museum (main building) and some comfy looking theater seats where you can sit and play informational videos, and lots of plaques to read various pieces of information about the town and its early inhabitants. It's my understanding that the place is still run, and possibly primarily inhabited by, descendants of the original settlers from almost 200 years ago, which is absolutely awesome. A nice sized playground outside to give kids a respite during an excellent learning experience was a fantastic idea to be able to keep them engaged and learning. Everyone that works here has always been really welcoming, friendly, knowledgeable and informative every time I've come through. 10/10, an awesome, important, and necessary place to add to your list of...

This little historical town is truly beautiful, with well-preserved buildings and a calm, quiet atmosphere. While there isn’t a lot to see and it’s not entirely clear why it’s designated as a National Historic Site, it’s definitely worth a stop if you’re driving by. However, I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way just to visit.

The staff were friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable about the history. They answered all questions confidently and without hesitation. One of the most charming aspects is that the original historical buildings are still scattered throughout the town, where people continue to live—keeping the history alive.

There’s a small but informative museum that provides a walking tour map of the town. Be sure to visit the church, and the walk to the ball fields is worth it. While exploring, I noticed a van for the "Kansas Black Farmers Club or Association," which shows that the legacy of Black farming is still strong and present in the community.

Thank you to those who have worked to preserve this town—it's an important part of both Kansas and American history.

Visited on: Weekend Wait time: None Reservation needed: No Adult...

Grateful to have had the opportunity to visit and learn more about such a unique space. I’d been wanting to visit Nicodemus for many years and hope to bring people in to visit again. The quiet and inviting museum does a great job sharing important information and providing a moving and palpable sense of history in the context of the present moment.

It’s not particularly easy to get to if you don’t live around NW KS (and statistically most people don’t live in NW KS). So, travelers are likely investing time on a long journey to Nicodemus. It is worth the journey! Just be prepared; pack food and water, travelers, or risk the uncertainty of inaccurate business hours for rural stores in neighboring towns. Unfortunately, no active restaurants in Nicodemus. There is a vending machine down the road from the Township Hall.

Thank you to Park Ranger Valerie for welcoming us into the Township Hall! And for the guidance to visit Hays for the rest of our daytrip.

May Nicodemus and its precious National Park withstand all tests of time and...