Nicodemus Homecoming Emancipation Celebration

06/14/2026

𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐡 — 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐮𝐬 🇺🇸✨

📍 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 | 🗓️ 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝐭𝐡 | ⏰ 𝟐:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌

Featuring a 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 by Historian Angela Bates on 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐡 and its ties to the annual Nicodemus Homecoming Emancipation Celebration, 🎉 and enjoy family-friendly activities including storytelling and a coloring activity.

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭!
✊🏽💚❤️💛

We're celebrating Juneteenth again this year at Nicodemus National Historic Site!

On Friday, June 19th, we are hosting some family friendly events to celebrate Juneteenth.

At 2:00 PM, join Ranger Dan for a coloring activity and story time as he reads the children's book "Juneteenth for Mazie."

At 2:30 PM, Nicodemus's Angela Bates will present on the history of Juneteenth and the holiday's connections with the annual Nicodemus Homecoming Emancipation Celebration. Angela Bates founded the Nicodemus Historical Society in 1988 and was instrumental in the establishment of Nicodemus National Historic Site in 1996.

These events will be in person at the Nicodemus Township Hall.

We hope to see you there!

06/08/2026

❤️ 𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 & 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 ❤️
𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻 • 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴

As we prepare for the 148th Nicodemus Homecoming Emancipation Celebration (NHEC), we invite families to honor the veterans who served our country.

This year, as we celebrate 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝟮𝟱𝟬, the Nicodemus Historical Society will 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲. We’re offering a special opportunity to recognize soldiers, veterans, and service members from our families and community.

⭐ For a $100 sponsorship, your veteran’s name will be displayed on the 2026 Homecoming stage backdrop—a meaningful way to honor their service while supporting a celebration that has united generations for nearly 150 years. 💪🏽

Homecoming is a family reunion where descendants gather to celebrate heritage, history, and the legacy of emancipation. Generations reconnect, share stories, honor ancestors, and preserve traditions. Your sponsorship is an investment ensuring future generations can continue creating memories in Historic Nicodemus.

🇺🇸 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻.
❤️ 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴.
🎉 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝟮𝟱𝟬.

𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲
Visit the Sponsor tab on our website to contribute by check (preferred to avoid fees) or online. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽.

𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿 🔗:
https://www.nicodemushomecoming.org/nicodemus-kansas-homecoming-sponsors
𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 6𝘁𝗵

🇺🇸 Celebrate 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝟮𝟱𝟬 with us and our partner, Nicodemus National Historic Site, as we honor veterans, cherish freedom, and preserve history. Happy 250th, America! 🥳

🗣️ 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱!

06/06/2026

❤️ 𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 & 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 ❤️
🎉 𝟭𝟰𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
📅 July 30 – Aug 2, 2026

📣 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲 & 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆! 🏨
Lodging fills up fast—don’t wait to secure your stay for this historic weekend!

💃🏽 Exciting plans are coming together! Join us in Historic Nicodemus, Kansas, for a fun-filled, powerful weekend of food, music, family, fellowship, and tradition as we celebrate nearly 150 years of history.

Follow our page and visit our website for updates as we roll out the Homecoming schedule, special announcements, and event details.
𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 🔗:
https://www.nicodemushomecoming.org/

🏨 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝘄!
Don’t miss out—book your room near Nicodemus today.
𝗟𝗼𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 🔗:
https://www.nicodemushomecoming.org/travel-lodging-directions

🇺🇸 Celebrate 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝟮𝟱𝟬 with us and our partner Nicodemus National Historic Site as we honor veterans, cherish freedom, and preserve history. Happy 250th, America! 🥳

06/05/2026

🎉 𝗧𝗵𝗲 148𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲! 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘀! 🎉

❤️ 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 & 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 — 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄! 📣

Excitement is building for the 148th Nicodemus Homecoming Emancipation Celebration!

📅 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟯𝟬 – 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
📍 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀, 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘀

A memorable weekend of reconnecting with family and friends, celebrating our rich heritage, enjoying delicious food, great music, inspiring fellowship, and entertainment for all ages.

🌟 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿: 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟮𝟱𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 🇺🇸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘂𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

💃🏽 Exciting plans are coming together, and there’s so much ahead!

👉🏽 Follow this page and visit our website for the official Homecoming agenda, special announcements, and event details:
🌐 www.nicodemushomecoming.org

Come experience one of Kansas's oldest and most treasured Emancipation celebrations—a tradition bringing generations together for nearly 150 years. ❤️

🙌🏽 WOO HOO! We can’t wait to welcome you home to Nicodemus!

05/01/2026

We are gearing up for our annual "Homecoming" celebration in Nicodemus, Kansas. 🎉Enjoy this historical interview of its history, from descendent Norma Switzer.🎙️

03/18/2026

☘️ 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐒𝐓. 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊’𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐘 ☘️

🏀 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄! ⛹🏽‍♂️🔥

Don’t forget about the tournament that matters during Homecoming! Play 3-on-3 basketball the “Team Hollywood Celebrity Streetball” way, right here in historic Nicodemus.

📅 The NCAA action tips off today, but Homecoming 2026 is where you’ll want to bring YOUR A-game. Get ready for our 3-on-3 basketball tournament this August—it’s gonna be madness! 🔥

🏆 𝐍𝐂𝐀𝐀 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄:
We’re challenging you to fill out your bracket and pick the Final Four. The winner will receive an NHEC Swag Bag, including our Homecoming t-shirt! 🛍️

𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭? Print the bracket from the comments. To enter, send your Final Four picks to 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨@𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦 by 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐.

Just like in the NCAA tournament, a championship is waiting to be claimed—so get your bracket in and show us your picks! 🥇🎯

Let’s keep the basketball spirit alive this March and get hyped for an unforgettable Homecoming! 🎉

👇🏽 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐭!
🏆 Who’s your dream 3-on-3 teammate?
🤔 Who’s taking home the championship this year?

03/17/2026

𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝—𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲! 💡✨
Last night’s Strategic Doing session sparked great ideas and exciting possibilities. 😀 Thank you, Graham County, Kansas Community Foundation, for bringing our community together to share ideas, take steps toward a bright future, turn ideas into action, and build momentum for historic Nicodemus! 👏🏽👏🏽

Last night’s Strategic Doing meeting in Nicodemus was a great success! Thank you to everyone who joined us—both in person and via Zoom. We had around 20 participants, and the energy and ideas shared were truly inspiring!

A special thank you to Karla Bates for capturing the moment and helping facilitate such a productive discussion.

Together, we had thoughtful conversations about Nicodemus’s strengths, areas for improvement, potential challenges, and—most importantly—our vision for the future. It’s clear there’s a strong passion for moving our community forward.

One key focus that emerged was the need for more lodging options for visitors and guests. A promising idea being explored is the addition of new RV hookup locations in Nicodemus.

We also discussed several other exciting opportunities, including:
• Improving lighting throughout town
• Enhancing security and police presence
• Making improvements to local roads
• Developing storage facilities
• Exploring a retail space for food, snacks, and drinks
• And many more great suggestions!

We’re planning a follow-up meeting in the coming weeks to review progress and begin forming groups or committees to help bring these ideas to life.

Thank you again to everyone who participated and shared their voice. It’s incredible to see so many people invested in the future of Nicodemus—great things are ahead!

03/16/2026

🏀 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗬 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗖𝗛 𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦! 🏀

March Madness kicks off tomorrow on St. Patrick's Day, and here in historic Nicodemus, we’re already feeling the buzz! 😀 Get ready — we’ve got some serious hoops action coming your way this summer! ⛹🏽‍♂️🔥

As the NCAA Tournament heats up, we’re gearing up for our own madness! The Nicodemus Homecoming Emancipation Celebration (NHEC) ‘KIDS CORNER’ and Team Hollywood Celebrity Streetball are hosting our 3rd Annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament this August! ⛹🏽‍♂️🌟 Don’t miss out — we want YOU to be part of the action!

We’re bringing all that March Madness energy into the summer to play "hoops" on OUR court — and we want YOU to join the fun! 🎉🎯 We’re kicking things off now with a 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲! 🏆

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: We’ll be challenging you to fill out your Final Four bracket for the NCAA Tournament. Pick your Final Four and win an NHEC Swag Bag! 🛍️

Follow us for updates and get ready for basketball action on SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2026.

So, while we wait for the real madness to hit, let’s get this hype started! 🤪

🎯 Who’s your pick for the NCAA Championship this year? Drop your prediction below and join the fun!👇🏽

03/14/2026

Come join the team at Nicodemus and Fort Larned National Historic Sites!
The two sites are looking to fill the role of Facility Manager, a key team member who supports both locations. The Facility Manager oversees the maintenance and operation of the historic and modern buildings, the grounds, utilities, and fleet.
To read the in-depth description, see the job requirements, or apply for this opportunity please follow the link to this announcement through USAJOBS. Applications are due by 3/17/26.

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/860752900

03/06/2026

Let's look at some early Nicodemus history!

The Graham County Register of Deeds office holds a survey map of the Nicodemus townsite from 1880. The map contains a grid filled in by hand that records all of the lots, blocks, and streets of the original 161 acre site, including a detailed map scale.

The Nicodemus Town Company advertised that the lots drawn on this map, most of which were 25 by 150 feet, could be bought for $5 each, or $75 if the buyer wanted to start a business on the land. In 2026, that would equal $154.34 and $2,315.16, respectively.

Below the map, the county surveyor, D. N. Minor, and survey chainmen and axmen L. L. D**e, J. J. Van Nisdall (likely Isaac Van Norsdall in census records), and Hiram Burley swore to the accuracy of the survey. E. P. McCabe, later the first Black auditor of Kansas, served as the notary public for this document.

The map was filed on May 14, 1880, at the Rooks County Register of Deeds, as Graham County would not be formally organized until later that year.