Nicodemus Homecoming Emancipation Celebration

09/03/2026

👣 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 💫

🌾 From the fields of Kentucky to the plains of Kansas, “𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀” is an inspiring true story of a family’s journey to the all-Black town of Nicodemus, Kansas.

Join us for a 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 special showing this Saturday at the McKenna Youth Center in Palco!

🗓️ 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠

🎞️ Documentary Overview
This powerful one-hour documentary brings a crucial chapter of African American and Kansas history to life. Follow the final leg of the incredible journey of formerly enslaved people who, in 1877, traveled from Kentucky to start a new life in Kansas.
Watch as a family embarks on a remarkable 35-mile trek across the vast prairie—on foot, from the depot in Ellis to Nicodemus, Kansas—seeking freedom and a future in the Promised Land.
Experience their inspiring story. ✊🏽

09/02/2026

08/31/2026

𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 🌟 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐂 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒

🎉 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝟭𝟱𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 (𝗦𝗲𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹) 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀! 🎉

As we look ahead to the next two years, the Nicodemus community has the incredible opportunity to celebrate two separate historic 150th Anniversary milestones.

Because these anniversaries recognize two different moments in our community’s history, we want to help provide clarity and celebrate each one for its own significance.

With the approval and partnership of the 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱, the 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is honored to help share information and promote awareness of these historic milestones.

Our goal is simple: to help our community, descendants, visitors, and supporters clearly understand the difference between:

🌟 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 — 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀 𝟭𝟱𝟬 | 𝟭𝟴𝟳𝟳–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳
𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟱𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀, 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘀

🌟 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴 — 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝟱𝟬 | 𝟭𝟴𝟳𝟴–𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴
𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝟱𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

While these are two separate anniversaries, they are both part of the incredible story, history, and legacy of Nicodemus.

We are honored to help celebrate this milestone for our town, and we look forward to celebrating Homecoming’s own historic milestone the following year.

Over the coming months, we will share more information, updates, and opportunities to celebrate these historic moments together.

Together, we look forward to honoring these two historic milestones and celebrating the enduring legacy of Nicodemus. 🎉❤️

08/22/2026

On August 11th, 𝐊𝐒𝐍 𝐓𝐕 shared a story about historic Nicodemus and asked an important question:

“𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀?”

We believe the answer can be found in the people, moments, and stories that continue to shape this historic community. From new families calling Nicodemus home to preserving its history and celebrating the traditions that bring people together, the future of Nicodemus continues to unfold. 👏🏽

With this series, we will share some of the moments that show Nicodemus is not only a place with a remarkable past, but a community with a future.

✨✨✨

❓ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀?
✨ 𝐀 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐮𝐬

🚌💙 Sometimes the smallest moments tell the biggest stories.

One answer can be found in moments like this—the return of a school bus to Nicodemus after nine years.

This represents so much more than transportation—it represents a young family choosing to call Nicodemus home, becoming part of this historic community, bringing new energy, creating new memories, and connecting a new generation to its legacy.

🌱 It is a beautiful reminder that Nicodemus continues to live, grow, welcome new generations, and build its future.

We are grateful to KSN TV and Graham County USD 281 for sharing this story and celebrating the joy, pride, and hope found in Nicodemus. We are proud of the legacy and the future of Nicodemus! ❤️

🎥 Video footage courtesy of resident Dr. JohnElla Holmes. Thank you for sharing this special moment with us! ☺️

For many, it is an ordinary part of the school day, but for this historic community, it is a sign of something much bigger.