The National Heritage Area Program was established as an alternative to the traditional National Park System — one that preserves the economic benefits of national parks while avoiding federal land ownership. National heritage areas are managed by nonprofit organizations rather than the federal government. They cannot own private property, and property owners may only partner with a heritage area through written consent. Additionally, heritage areas have no authority to impose land-use controls or interfere with hunting and fishing rights.
Freedom’s Frontier was designated as a national heritage area by Congress in 2006 to foster economic development and tourism in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. This regional, grassroots initiative covers a unique physical and cultural landscape across 41 counties and 31,000 square miles. FFNHA achieves its goals by partnering with local organizations that promote three diverse, interwoven, and nationally significant stories: frontier settlement; the Missouri-Kansas Border War and Civil War; and enduring, fundamental questions about civil rights. We seek to bring together people interested in the region’s past, present, and future and work together toward mutual goals.
The FFNHA region includes 29 Kansas counties (Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Bourbon, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Clay, Coffey, Crawford, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Labette, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami, Montgomery, Neosho, Osage, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Wilson, Woodson, and Wyandotte) and 12 counties in western Missouri (Barton, Bates, Buchanan, Cass, Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Platte, Ray, St. Clair, and Vernon).
While discussing a recent proposal to establish Florida Springs National Park in central and north Florida, some residents who opposed federal land ownership favored national heritage area designation instead. Haley Mooy, director of the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute, explained, “The National Park Service doesn’t assume any ownership of the land inside a national heritage area or impose any land use controls. And, so, this is really a way for us to get our message out about protecting the aquifer and protecting our springs and ultimately our drinking water through an education campaign.”¹
FFNHA inspires respect for multiple perspectives and empowers area residents to preserve and share these stories, achieving its goals through interpretation, preservation, conservation, and education for all residents and visitors. It is one of 62 federally recognized national heritage areas across the United States.
1. Julie Garisto and Mark Harper, “A Fine idea? U.S. Rep. Fine discusses proposed Florida National Springs Park study,” Ocala StarBanner, Sept. 15, 2025. URL.
Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) builds awareness of struggles for freedom in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Established by Congress in 2006, FFNHA covers a unique physical and cultural landscape across 41 counties and 31,000 square miles. It promotes three diverse, interwoven, and nationally significant stories: frontier settlement, the Missouri-Kansas Border War and Civil War, and enduring civil rights disputes. FFNHA inspires respect for multiple perspectives and empowers area residents to preserve and share these stories, achieving its goals through interpretation, preservation, conservation, and education for all residents and visitors. It is one of 62 federally recognized national heritage areas across the United States.
President George W. Bush approved Freedom’s Frontier in 2006. Which was built in tandem with the agricultural community almost twenty years ago. A small group of Kansans came together to create a way to honor our role in the Civil War, and to be sure our children know Kansas’ history.
Volunteers worked closely with Senator Pat Roberts’ office, Governor Mike Hayden. You can imagine how careful they were to protect farmers, ranchers, landowners, hunting rights and fishing rights.
Today, we have existed for almost 20 years. We have no relationship with any 30×30 program or planning which is much more recent.
Think of us as a network of museums and historical sites – like pinpoints on the map.
Since we began, federal law forbids Freedom’s Frontier from:
By law, the choice to join the heritage area lies entirely with the property owners. It is not possible to be “opted-in” without your permission.
Freedom’s Frontier only receives federal funds, philanthropic gifts, and grant funding. For every dollar invested in a heritage area, $5 is generated in the local economy. Our sites are advertised across the nation at National Parks and other heritage areas. This helps to drive increasing numbers of tourists.
We have had several questions regarding endangered species. We have no programs in this area – except our pollination effort. We have partnered with Rotary International to encourage pollination efforts at all our sites. This is similar to the efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to foster bees and butterflies.
OUR BEGINNING
President Ronald Reagan created National Heritage Areas to preserve history and generate tourism without invading private property rights. (Use as caption under Reagan photo) President George W. Bush approved Freedom’s Frontier in 2006. Which was built in tandem with the agricultural community almost twenty years ago. A small group of Kansans came together to create a way to honor our role in the Civil War, and to be sure our children know Kansas’ history.
Volunteers worked closely with Senator Pat Roberts’ office, Governor Mike Hayden. You can imagine how careful they were to protect farmers, ranchers, landowners, hunting rights and fishing rights.
Today, we have existed for almost 20 years. We have no relationship with any 30×30 program or planning which is much more recent.
Think of us as a network of museums and historical sites – like pinpoints on the map.
PROPERTY RIGHTS
Since we began, federal law forbids Freedom’s Frontier from:
By law, the choice to join the heritage area lies entirely with the property owners. It is not possible to be “opted-in” without your permission.
You may not be “opted in” without your explicit written permission — no site is a member unless they request it. Our borderline only shows which counties are eligible to have historic sites join. (caption under the image of our region).
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Freedom’s Frontier only receives federal funds, philanthropic gifts, and grant funding. For every dollar invested in a heritage area, $5 is generated in the local economy. Our sites are advertised across the nation at National Parks and other heritage areas. This helps to drive increasing numbers of tourists.
ENDANGERED SPECIES
We have had several questions regarding endangered species. We have no programs in this area – except our pollination effort. We have partnered with Rotary International to encourage pollination efforts at all our sites. This is similar to the efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to foster bees and butterflies.
We never interfere with private property.
We never purchase private property.
We never impose local zoning changes.
We never interfere with water rights.
We never restrict landowners’ rights.
National Heritage Areas do not affect private property rights within their designated areas, period.
Though NHAs are funded through the National Park Service, they are not National Park units. NPS does not assume ownership of land inside heritage areas or impose land use controls. NHAs are – and will always be – community-driven, based on cooperation. Participation in an NHA is entirely voluntary.
Legislation that authorizes National Heritage Areas includes specific language that guarantees that NHAs will protect private property rights. In fact, the National Heritage Area Act of 2022 states: “Nothing in this section…abridges any right of a public or private property owner, including the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity conducted within a National Heritage Area.”
Indeed, a review of NHAs by General Accounting Office directed by Congress was unable to find a single instance of an NHA directly affecting how private property can be used. Groups interviewed for the study included private property rights advocates such as the Heritage Foundation, the American Land Rights Association, and the Private Property Foundation of America.
Read our authorizing legislation. (Pub. L. 109-338, title II, subtitle E, §§264(i)(1), 266, Oct. 12, 2006, 120 Stat. 1783.)
Read our authorizing legislation. (Pub. L. 109-338, title II, subtitle E, §§264(i)(1), 266, Oct. 12, 2006, 120 Stat. 1783.)