A temporary museum exhibit is to open in Springfield showcasing New Philadelphia _ the first U.S. town to be founded and registered by an African-American.
The exhibit will be at the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum through the end of July. Reports that the exhibit is a partnership between the Illinois State Museum and the African American History Museum.
A display case will have artifacts excavated from New Philadelphia during an archaeological project a few years ago. The site is near Barry in Pike County and is a National Historic Landmark.
Freed slave Frank McWorter founded the town. Fifth-generation members of his family are to speak at the museum in coming months.
