A Quindaro townsite preservation bill has passed the U.S. House of Representatives.
According to a news release from U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-3rd Dist., who sponsored the bill, this is an effort to elevate and preserve the Quindaro townsite, a significant archaeological site, in a way that is consistent with its historical and cultural importance.
Founded in 1857 by abolitionists, Quindaro was a thriving pre-Civil War town on the Missouri River, in what is now part of Kansas City, Kansas.
Quindaro was an important stop on the Underground Railroad, according to historians.
The Quindaro Townsite National Commemorative Site Act, House Resolution 5613, sponsored by Rep. Yoder, would make Quindaro a National Commemorative Site, with hopes for new opportunities for investment and preservation.
The bill has five sponsors, including U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Missouri.
Rep. Yoder’s statement on the passage of the bill:
“Today, the House of Representatives has an opportunity to grant long overdue recognition to a historic site in Kansas City, Kansas that has its roots in our nation’s struggle for freedom and equality. The Quindaro Townsite National Commemorative Site Act is my bill to confer an important new designation to a piece of history that has unfortunately been overlooked on the federal level for far too long.
“Many local stakeholders have worked hard for decades to preserve Quindaro. Now, we have an opportunity to bring meaningful federal support to those who have dedicated their lives to this effort.
“National Commemorative Site designation will be a crucial step toward spreading the story of Quindaro beyond the city limits of Kansas City to people around the nation. Quindaro’s legacy – of people who were willing to lay down their lives in the name of freedom – is the legacy of America. By preserving what remains of this town, we take a small but meaningful step toward preserving every good and noble thing that our great nation stands for.”
The next step for this effort is in the U.S. Senate, where Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, is sponsoring a companion bill.