{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kansas-city-lawmakers-support-national-historic-landmark-designation", "Kansas City Lawmakers Support National Historic Landmark Designation of Quindaro Townsite", "2025-05-13", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "MO", "Emanuel Cleaver", "C001061", "cleaver.house.gov", "cleaver", "https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Derek Schmidt (R-KS), and Sharice Davids (D-KS) have called on the National Park Service to designate the Quindaro Townsite in Wyandotte County as a National Historic Landmark. The Kansas City, Kansas site served as a critical entry point for anti-slavery settlers and a sanctuary for those escaping bondage via the Underground Railroad prior to and during the U.S. Civil War.\n\n\u201cThe Quindaro Townsite is a vital piece of U.S. history that demonstrates our national commitment to liberty and self-determination, which ought to be celebrated and shared with future generations,\u201d said Congressman Cleaver. \u201cJust as I was proud to introduce the bipartisan Quindaro Townsite National Historic Landmark Act with Reps. Schmidt and Davids, I\u2019m once again honored to advocate for the designation of Quindaro as a National Historic Landmark, preserving this important chapter in America\u2019s story until the end of time.\u201d\n\n\u201cQuindaro is a meaningful part of our region, state, and country\u2019s history,\u201d Congressman Schmidt said. \u201cRecognizing the site as a National Historic Landmark will provide the designation necessary to properly preserve the legacy of this important historical site. I\u2019m proud to lead my fellow Kansas City area lawmakers in this effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cQuindaro is a powerful part of Kansas\u2019 history in the fight for freedom and equality, but for too long, local preservation efforts of this important site have lacked much-needed resources,\u201d Representative Davids said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work with Representatives Schmidt and Cleaver to ensure this site receives the recognition and protection it deserves through a National Historic Landmark designation.\u201d\n\nFounded in 1857, Quindaro emerged as a beacon for Free-State advocates during the turbulent \u201cBleeding Kansas\u201d era. Strategically located along the Missouri River, it served as a critical entry point for anti-slavery settlers and a sanctuary for those escaping bondage via the Underground Railroad. The town\u2019s establishment was a collaborative effort among the Wyandot Nation, New England abolitionists, and African American settlers, exemplifying a unique and harmonious multicultural alliance during a period marked by division and conflict.\n\nBeyond its pivotal role in the anti-slavery movement, Quindaro became a nucleus for post-Civil War African American advancement. The establishment of the Quindaro Freedman\u2019s School, later known as Western University, marked a significant milestone as the first Black school west of the Mississippi River. Institutions like Douglass Hospital further underscored the town\u2019s commitment to education and healthcare within the African American community.\n\nArchaeological excavations have unveiled a wealth of artifacts, offering invaluable insights into the daily lives of Quindaro\u2019s diverse inhabitants. The site\u2019s preserved foundations and structures provide a tangible connection to this rich history. Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places since 2002, Quindaro\u2019s significance has been further acknowledged through its designation as a National Commemorative Site in 2019.\n\nIn 2023, the lawmakers introduced the Quindaro Townsite National Historic Landmark Act to designate the Quindaro Townsite as a National Historic Landmark.\n\nThe official letter from lawmakers is available here.\n\nEmanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kansas-city-lawmakers-support-national-historic-landmark-designation"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8666748180985451, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}