I 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5613 

To designate the Quindaro Townsite in Kansas City, Kansas, as a National 

Historic Landmark, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 25, 2018 

Mr. YODER (for himself and Mr. CLEAVER) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To designate the Quindaro Townsite in Kansas City, Kansas, 

as a National Historic Landmark, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. QUINDARO TOWNSITE NATIONAL HISTORIC 

4 LANDMARK ACT. 

5 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

6 ‘‘Quindaro Townsite National Historic Landmark Act’’. 

7 (b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds as follows: 

8 (1) The town of Quindaro was founded in 1857, 

9 in what was then the Territory of Kansas, with the 

10 specific intent of aiding the Free-State movement in 


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1 the struggle over whether to admit Kansas to the 

2 Union as a free State or a slave State. As a result, 

3 Quindaro played an important role in both the his4 tory of Kansas and our Nation’s broader debate over 

5 slavery. 

6 (2) Quindaro was a key site during the Bleed7 ing Kansas conflict, serving as a safe port of entry 

8 into Kansas on the Missouri River for those opposed 

9 to slavery. 

10 (3) The town of Quindaro also acted as an im11 portant piece of the Underground Railroad, allowing 

12 runaway slaves to escape to freedom in Kansas. 

13 (4) Since the Quindaro Townsite’s first exca14 vation, it has yielded a wealth of important artifacts 

15 that have contributed to our understanding of the 

16 town and its place in history. The area maintains a 

17 high level of archaeological integrity, with the poten18 tial for additional discoveries at the site in the fu19 ture. 

20 (5) Local government, private entities, and indi21 vidual stakeholders in the area have invested time 

22 and resources to further the preservation of both 

23 Quindaro’s physical remains and its historical and 

24 cultural legacy. 


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1 (6) The Quindaro Townsite fits the National 

2 Historic Landmark designation’s requirement of 

3 possessing exceptional value in illustrating the his4 tory of the United States, as well as providing the 

5 potential to yield new information about our past. 

6 (c) DESIGNATION.—The Quindaro Townsite in Kan7 sas City, Kansas, as listed on the National Register of 

8 Historic Places, is hereby designated as the Quindaro 

9 Townsite National Historic Landmark. 

10 (d) ADMINISTRATION.—Nothing in this section shall 

11 affect the administration of the Quindaro Townsite by 

12 Kansas City or the State of Kansas. 

13 (e) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary, in 

14 consultation with the State of Kansas, Kansas City, Kan15 sas, and affected subdivisions, may enter into cooperative 

16 agreements with appropriate public or private entities, for 

17 the purposes of protecting historic resources at Quindaro 

18 Townsite and providing educational and interpretive facili19 ties and programs for the public. 

20 (f) TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—The 

21 Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance 

22 to any entity with which the Secretary has entered into 

23 a cooperative agreement under subsection (e). 

24 (g) NO EFFECT ON ACTIONS OF PROPERTY OWN25 ERS.—Designation of the Quindaro Townsite as a NaVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:15 Apr 27, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H5613.IH H5613

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1 tional Historic Landmark shall not prohibit any actions 

2 which may otherwise be taken by any property owners, 

3 including the owners of the Quindaro Townsite National 

4 Historic Landmark, with respect to their property. 

Æ 


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