A Labor Of Love

In 2025, our administration took a bold stance on its view of Black history in America. Since then, there has been a visible effort to reshape how Black history and the Black experience are defined and remembered. We’ve seen instances where critical pieces of history—like references to Harriet Tubman on National Park Service pages, the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, and funding for institutions like the Whitney Plantation—were removed or rescinded, only to be restored after public response.

These moments highlight a troubling reality: there are those who view parts of American history—particularly Black American history—as expendable.

That is exactly why restoring the Old Quindaro Museum is not optional for me.

Preserving the history of my family, and the many families who found refuge in Quindaro, is not something I have to “think about doing.” It is one of my life’s missions.

I remember my first visit to the Old Quindaro Museum. I was 12 years old, and honestly, it felt like a chore. I had heard the stories my entire life—did I really need to hear them again? But something changed when I walked through those doors. It felt different. Real. Alive.

My father had told me that my uncle, Jesse F. Hope III, had purchased what we called “The Old Walker Home” and planned to turn it into a museum dedicated to Quindaro’s history. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in Quindaro meant the stories were always present—at holidays, gatherings, even ordinary days. If more than two elders were in a room, Quindaro would find its way into the conversation.

My name is Nakia Hope-Paul. I am a fifth-generation descendant of Robert Monroe, an escaped slave from Platte County, Missouri, who found freedom in Old Quindaro in the late 1850s with the help of the Wyandot people.

I have proudly inherited the responsibility of continuing my ancestors’ legacy—preserving the history of Quindaro and advancing the vision of my uncle.

Old Quindaro was more than a settlement—it was a sanctuary. A thriving community of White abolitionists, Wyandot natives, and freedom seekers who built a foundation that would impact generations. That foundation led to the creation of Western University, the first HBCU west of the Mississippi River, and so much more.

Today, the ruins of Old Quindaro sit on the northeast corner of Kansas City, Kansas—weathered, buried in debris, and nearly forgotten. But Quindaro is not gone. There is still life there. A pulse that deserves to be protected and revived.

The Old Quindaro Museum is the principal project of the Concerned Citizens for Old Quindaro, a nonprofit organization founded in the early 1980s in direct response to the attempted  erasure of Quindaro’s history.

Our mission is to restore the museum and transform it into a leading hub for history, culture, and education in the northeast community. But our vision extends beyond one building. We aim to uplift surrounding historic landmarks like the Vernon Center and the Blanchley Home each holding vital pieces of Quindaro’s story.

The reality is, this work is not easy. The museum is in significant disrepair. However, professional assessments confirm that it can be saved.

And we are making progress.

We have already secured $20,000 in grant funding and, in late 2025, achieved state historical designation—opening doors to additional funding opportunities.

Beyond restoration, we remain committed to preservation and education. We actively monitor the ruins to prevent illegal dumping, offer tours of the Old Quindaro Cemetery, and work to educate our youth—because they are the future carriers of these stories.

Our goal is simple but powerful: to create a space where history is preserved, shared, and experienced by all who seek to understand the legacy of Old Quindaro.

This is an exciting time for Quindaro, and I look forward to building with all of you.

But we cannot do this alone.

Saving the Old Quindaro Museum requires community. It requires support. It requires you.

Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram, reach out with questions, and connect with us for tours. While the museum building is not currently open, the story of Quindaro is still very much alive and we are honored to share it.