Extraordinary events in Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area forever changed America. In the nineteenth century, the nation turned its eyes to the Missouri-Kansas border, where peoples with diverse definitions of freedom collided, inciting and fueling a Civil War. The impact of these events is forever woven into the nation’s fabric.

Freedom’s Frontier began as a grassroots effort of people just like you, who were concerned about our landscape. They understood that we have an important, nationally significant story to share about shaping the frontier, the Missouri-Kansas Border War, and the enduring struggle for freedom. More than 230 museums, historical societies, and heritage sites partner with us in telling these stories. Join us in our efforts in helping to interpret history that helped shape a nation.

View list of partner sites (A-Z)
View list of partner sites (by county)

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) welcomes you as a partner in working toward a heritage area that is responsive to the needs of our region and preserving our shared heritage. Working together, we can create a strong heritage area that provides many benefits, including:

Collective Wisdom
Connect to historic sites, museums, tourism organizations in 41-county region to learn from one another.

Project Grants
Up to $3000 in individual grants for projects that interpret the themes of Freedom’s Frontier: Settling the Frontier, Border War, Enduring Struggle for Freedom.

Workshops
Free or low-cost workshops to help museums and partners sites better tell their piece of the Freedom’s Frontier story.

Marketing
Cooperative advertising opportunities and marketing through the website and printed material of Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area.

Technical Assistance
Consult with staff for suggestions on how to improve site interpretation, educational programs, marketing, operations, etc.

Other Opportunities
Partner with Freedom’s Frontier and other historic sites and museums as opportunities arise to promote and interpret our region’s important history.

Sign our partnership pledge and become an FFNHA partner.

The FFNHA Partner Advisory Group is both self-nominated and staff invited to get representation of a variety of different types of museums and historical societies along with geographic and age distribution throughout the heritage area. The group meets via conference call with staff on a bimonthly basis. The group selects one member from Missouri and one member from Kansas to serve on the Board of Trustees for one year. The group selects a chair to work with FFNHA staff outside of calls.

The members of the group are:

• • Alana Smith, Westport Historical Society (Chair)
  • Mary Billington, Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museum (Secretary)
  • Carl Brenner, Fort Scott Historic Site – NPS
  • Paul Bahnmaier, Lecompton Historical Society
  • Sandra Kelly, Johnson County Kansas Heritage Foundation
  • Judy Lindquist, Douglass School Project
  • Alinda Miller, Historic Lone Jack Battlefield and Museum
  • Steve Novak, Watkins Museum of History
  • Alexis Radil, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site
  • Jennifer Reed, Cass County Historical Society
  • Marcia Rozell, Visit Manhattan
  • Will Tollerton, Bushwhacker Museum

Freedom’s Frontier and the Watkins Museum of History offer a selection of traveling exhibits for display at partner sites.

Learn more.

Have an idea for an app-based interactive tour of your site? Request a digital tour consultation here.

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