Trust for Public Land, National Park Service Celebrate Donation of Historic First Baptist Church in Nicodemus

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is proud to announce the successful donation of the historic Nicodemus First Baptist Church to the National Park Service (NPS) for inclusion in the Nicodemus National Historic Site. This donation marks a significant milestone in the preservation of African American heritage at this important national historic site.

The First Baptist Church, a cornerstone of the Nicodemus community, was founded in 1877 by formerly enslaved African Americans who settled in the area during Reconstruction. The church has been a beacon of resilience, serving as both a place of worship and a community hub for generations of African Americans in Nicodemus, the only remaining western town established by Black settlers after the Civil War.

“Preserving the First Baptist Church is not just about protecting a historic building; it’s about safeguarding the legacy of those who made monumental sacrifices for freedom and equality,” said Dr. Jocelyn Imani, National Director of Black History and Culture for Trust for Public Land. “By protecting this sacred site, TPL and the National Park Service are ensuring future generations can learn from and be inspired by the powerful history of Nicodemus and the determination of the African Americans who sought its creation.”

The congregation of the First Baptist Church built a new modern church building in 1973 next door to the historic church and are excited to see their now-vacant historic building restored.

The Historic Site currently is comprised of five historic buildings representing church, self-government, education, home, and business. They illustrate “the individual and collective strength of character and desire for freedom of these early pioneers who established Nicodemus.” The buildings were declared the 355th unit of the National Park System on November 12, 1996. In 1998, Trust for Public Land helped protect the African Methodist Episcopalian (AME) Church, built in 1885, as one of five historic buildings that are part of the National Historic Site.

In 2022, TPL purchased and donated to the National Park Service roughly 1 acre of land for the proposed site of a future building that will serve as a visitor’s center and meet NPS’s administrative and maintenance facility needs.

The National Park Foundation (NPF), who funded the purchase of the 1-acre site for visitor needs, also provided TPL with a grant to cover the purchase of the church and costs to repair the roof to make the historic building watertight. Following the real estate closing, the National Park Service formally assumed ownership of the church.

“Thank you to the congregation of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Nicodemus, who were the property owners, and thank you to Trust for Public Land,” said Cassie Branstetter, NPS superintendent of Nicodemus National Historic Site. “TPL and NPF have been integral partners at Nicodemus National Historic Site. We rely on collaboration with the community, descendants of the Black settlers who established this historic town, and park partners like TPL and NPF. Through these collaborations, the First Baptist Church is now another physical piece of the story of Nicodemus that can be protected and shared to ensure that the national contributions of the Black Homesteading community are not lost.”

Trust for Public Land is working to accelerate the preservation of sites nationwide that tell the story of Black life in America through its Black History and Culture initiative, work that is supported by a growing community of funders and leaders who are committed to a more equitable future and share a passion for creating, protecting, and activating public spaces of historical and cultural significance to Black communities across the country.

About Trust for Public Land

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.