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Nicodemus, Kansas

Several structures in succession, all at the same location, housed the congregation of the First Baptist Church from its founding in 1877 to the present. The group initially worshipped in a dugout, which was replaced by a soddie, another dugout, and eventually a small limestone structure. The current structure, an L-shaped building with intersecting gable roofs, was completed in 1907. The exterior walls are limestone, and the structure was coated with stucco circa 1940. The 1960 addition features concrete unit masonry covered with stucco. The building has several irregularly spaced and shaped buttresses of limestone rubble coated with stucco. An articulated vestibule at the intersection of the ell segments marks the entrance to the church.

The First Baptist Church is preserved as a National Historic Site by the National Park System.

Attractions and Upcoming Events

NSD #1 Schoolhouse

Nicodemus was the first community in Graham County, Kansas, to establish a school district and school. The existing school building was constructed in 1918

Nicodemus, KS Historic Schoolhouses

Nicodemus National Historic Site

The Nicodemus National Historic Site preserves, protects and interprets the only remaining western town established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War. At the Visitor Center

Nicodemus, KS Museums

First Baptist Church

Several structures in succession, all at the same location, housed the congregation of the First Baptist Church from its founding in 1877

Nicodemus, KS Historic Churches

AME Church

Area residents founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.) in 1879. Members initially met in a sod structure. In 1885, the sod church was replaced with a limestone structure. In 1910

Nicodemus, KS Historic Churches

St. Francis Hotel

The St. Francis Hotel is a significant example of the businesses in Nicodemus during its era of great prosperity. Built in 1881

Nicodemus, KS Historic Hotels

Things to do near Nicodemus, KS

Carnegie Arts Center

The original Carnegie Library was built in 1912, with the help of a $10,000.00 grant from philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie and...

Last Indian Raid

Rawlins County was the site of the Last Indian Raid in Kansas, October 1, 1878. It was a raid carried out by Cheyenne Indians...

Little Bit's RV Hookups

30/50/110 electic, water, sewer near Kirwin Wildlife Refuge....