Congressman Derek Schmidt, along with Representatives Sharice Davids and Emanuel Cleaver, is urging the National Park Service to designate the historic Quindaro Townsite in Wyandotte County as a National Historic Landmark. Located in Kansas City, Kansas, Quindaro played a vital role before and during the Civil War, serving as a key entry point for Free-State settlers and a haven for those escaping slavery via the Underground Railroad.

Established in 1857 during the Bleeding Kansas era, Quindaro was founded through a unique alliance among the Wyandot Nation, New England abolitionists, and African American settlers. This multicultural community became a symbol of resistance and cooperation in a time of national division.

After the war, Quindaro advanced Black education and healthcare. It was home to the first Black school west of the Mississippi—Western University—and Douglass Hospital. Archaeological digs have revealed rich cultural artifacts, preserving the site’s heritage. Quindaro was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and named a National Commemorative Site in 2019.