The Story of Quindaro & the Underground Railroad in KCK

Photo courtesy UrbanHikesKC.com.

In the mid-1850s, as tensions over slavery simmered across the United States, the Kansas Territory became a flashpoint in the battle between pro-slavery and Free State settlers. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 opened the territory to settlement, with the decision of whether to allow slavery left to the settlers themselves. This decision sparked a rush of migrants, each side determined to sway the outcome.

Founded in 1856 by a coalition of abolitionists, Free Staters, and members of the Wyandot tribe, Quindaro was strategically located on the Missouri River, just six miles above the mouth of the Kansas River.

The town was named after Nancy Quindaro Brown Guthrie, a Wyandot woman whose name means “in union there is strength.” This name was emblematic of the town’s mission: to serve as a stronghold for Free State settlers and a safe haven for escaped slaves making their way to freedom.

Carriage-Wagon Shop in Quindaro, KS. Courtesy Legends of KS.

The town's location was chosen with care. A natural rock ledge along the river provided an ideal landing spot for steamboats, making Quindaro the only port on that stretch of the Missouri not controlled by Southern sympathizers. By early 1857, the town was already thriving, with a population of 600 and a bustling commercial district.

The town boasted two hotels, a sawmill, a brickyard, and a newspaper—the Quindaro Chindowan, co-edited by abolitionist Clarina Nichols. The paper, named after a Wyandot word meaning “leader,” served as both a voice for the Free State movement and a tool for civic boosterism.

Quindaro’s Role in the Underground Railroad

Ruins of a Quindaro Brewery. Courtesy TheClio.com.

While Quindaro’s commercial success was significant, its true legacy lies in its role as a key station on the Underground Railroad. The town’s strategic location, just across the river from the slave state of Missouri, made it an ideal crossing point for escaped slaves. Many of Quindaro’s residents, including Clarina Nichols, were deeply involved in the abolitionist movement and risked their lives to help those seeking freedom.

Nichols, who had previously made headlines for her work in the women’s suffrage movement, played a crucial role in the Underground Railroad. In an 1882 memoir, she recounted a harrowing episode in which she hid a young fugitive named Caroline in a cistern on her property to protect her from a group of 14 slave hunters, including Caroline’s master. This act of bravery was just one example of the quiet but determined resistance that defined Quindaro’s contribution to the fight against slavery.

The town’s residents used various means to help escapees. Some slaves crossed the Missouri River at night, using small boats or even walking across the ice during the cold winter months. Once they reached Quindaro, they were hidden in homes, barns, or natural hiding spots like caves, until it was safe to move further on the Underground Railroad. The nearby Quindaro-Parkville Ferry was also instrumental in ferrying escapees across the river, though it was eventually sunk by pro-slavery forces in frustration at the town’s defiance.

The Legacy of Quindaro: From Ghost Town to Historic Landmark

Despite its early promise, Quindaro’s prosperity was short-lived. The economic panic of 1857, coupled with fierce competition from other Kansas towns and the outbreak of the Civil War, led to a rapid decline. By 1862, the Kansas State Legislature had revoked the town’s charter, and many of its buildings were abandoned, becoming a ghost town.

Western University

However, in 1865, just as the Civil War was ending, a group of local citizens founded the Quindaro Freedman’s School, later known as Western University. This institution, the first black school west of the Mississippi River, offered education and training to former slaves and their descendants for decades.

The John Brown statue, erected on the university grounds in 1911, served as a powerful reminder of the town’s abolitionist roots and its enduring commitment to the cause of freedom.

John Brown Statue. Courtesy UrbanHikesKC.com.

By the mid-20th century, Western University had closed, and the once-thriving townsite had largely disappeared beneath the overgrowth. However, in the 1980s, a proposed landfill project threatened to erase what remained of Quindaro’s legacy. In response, a coalition of descendants, historians, and preservationists rallied to protect the site, leading to its designation as a National Commemorative Site and placement on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Today, the Quindaro Townsite stands as a testament to the strength and resilience of its founders and residents. The ruins, partially hidden in the hillside, serve as a reminder of the town’s pivotal role in the fight against slavery and its enduring legacy as a symbol of unity and resistance.