Extraordinary events in the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) 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 the Civil War. The impact of these events is forever woven into the nation’s fabric.

Shaping the Frontier: For the half million pioneers who traveled on the Santa Fe, California, Mormon, and Oregon Trials, the Missouri/Kansas border was the jumping off point. In this place where river travel ended, traders, miners, and emigrants purchased provisions and prepared for long overland treks. As they traveled west, many began to see the “permanent” Indian frontier beyond Missouri’s western border as an obstacle to Manifest Destiny.

Missouri/Kansas Border War: When Kansas was opened for settlement in 1854, a border war ensured, capturing the nation’s attention. The Kansas-Nebraska Act nullified the uneasy balance established by the Missouri Compromise and left the territory’s future slave status in the hands of settlers. The stakes were high for both sides. The violence of the Missouri/Kansas Border War ushered in the Civil War, consumed the region in bloody conflict through war’s end, and devastated communities on both sides of the border.

Enduring Struggles for Freedom: The nation’s struggle for freedom did not end with the Civil War. Though the war eliminated clashes over geography, efforts to break down society’s barriers continue. Since the Civil War, this place has inspired national policies and ongoing efforts to secure equal freedoms for all Americans.

Freedom’s Frontier provides new opportunities for visitors and residents to explore the evolving ideal and fundamental American value of FREEDOM.

Vision: Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area is an internationally recognized region in western Missouri and eastern Kansas. The heritage area shares its authentic and honestly interpreted stories with residents and visitors who add to the economic vitality of the region. Freedom’s Frontier respects multiple views of freedom and promotes the region’s contributions to the American story.

Mission: We tell the stories of the struggles for freedom in our region and their lasting impact on our nation.

Guiding Principles:
1. We will be tolerant and respectful diverse stories from multiple perspectives.
2. We will respect property rights.
3. We will focus on authentic and engaging experiences.
4. We honor the region’s peoples, past and present.
5. We appreciate unique cultural and historic assets within the nationally important landscape.
6. We will invest in community engagement, education, and empowerment.
7. We will sustain and grow a sense of place.
8. We value and protect the natural environment.
9. We will consider future generations in all actions.

Prior to its designation as a National Heritage Area, FFNHA completed a feasibility study. It was submitted to Congress in 2006.

Read FFNHA’s feasibility study.

FFNHA was designated by Congress as a National Heritage Area on October 12, 2006.

View our enabling legislation here.

National Heritage Area legislation typically requires the development of a management plan within three years of designation. National Heritage Area management plans include long-range policies, goals, strategies, and actions; an implementation plan with short, mid, and long-range actions and performance goals; a business plan for the heritage area coordinating entity; and an interpretive plan.

For readability and user convenience, the FFNHA Management Plan is separated into sections below. A complete PDF can be found here.

I. Front Cover & Table of Contents

II. Executive Summary

III. Part 1: The Power of Place

IV. Part 2: The Power of Story

V. Part 3: The Power of Action

VI. Part 4: The Power of Partnership

VII. Part 5: The Power of People

VIII. Appendix A

IX. Appendix B

View our Bylaws here.

2012 Annual Report

2013 Annual Report

2014 Annual Report

2015 Annual Report

2016 Annual Report

2017 Annual Report

2018 Annual Report

2019 Annual Report

2020 Annual Report

2021 Annual Report

FY 2022 Annual Report

FY 2023 Annual Report

The maps below appear in the FFNHA Management Plan.

Counties of Freedom’s Frontier
A map of Freedom’s Frontier NHA’s boundaries

Cultural Watersheds
A map of the four principal river valleys within FFNHA’s boundaries

Native Peoples
A map of native ancestral lands within FFNHA

Population and Origins 1860
A map of FFNHA measuring population density of European-American settlers circa 1860

Shifting Political Boundaries
A series of maps demonstrating shifts in the political geography of counties within FFNHA since 1804

Growth and Development
A map measuring contemporary population density within FFNHA’s boundaries

Recreation Resources
A map indicating the locations of state parks, state forests, trails, and state scenic byways within FFNHA

Critical Habitat
A map measuring the density of endangered species recognized by state and federal agencies, along with the locations of national wildlife refuges, within FFNHA

Over the past 30 years, Congress has established 62 National Heritage Areas (NHAs) to commemorate, conserve, and promote important areas that include natural, scenic, historic, cultural, and recreational resources. NHAs are partnerships between the National Park Service (NPS), states, and local communities, where the NPS supports state and local conservation through federal recognition, seed money, and technical assistance. NHAs are not part of the National Park System, where lands are federally owned and managed. Rather, lands within heritage areas typically remain in state, local, or private ownership. In addition, other heritage areas have been designated by states and local governments and announcements. This issue brief, prepared by the Congressional Research Service, focuses on heritage areas designated by Congress, and related issues and legislation.

Learn more.

View our Graphic Standards here.

Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) is working to build a unified graphic identity, based on its logo. It is important to ensure proper usage of the FFNHA logo in order to strengthen the FFNHA name and image through consistent branding. A brand is more than a logo or a singular marketing message. A brand is a promise and a set of principles evident to those who come in contact with it. It is also a collection of perceptions in the mind of consumers. Examples of ways that visitors might develop perceptions about FFNHA extend beyond graphics to things like how they’re greeted at an attraction, whether the site under or overdelivers on their promise, whether the site was easy to find, etc. All of those experiences come together with the visual representation of the brand to create a perception. The FFNHA logo is the primary visual component of the overall brand and for that reason it is imperative that the logo be handled consistently to help maintain the brand’s equity.

The Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area Brand
With the development of the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area, the organization has an opportunity to build and grow an entity with positive brand image and equity. Proper communication of the FFNHA brand will serve to both create and sustain a clear, unifying identity for the area.

Logo Significance
The FFNHA logo was designed to represent the trails that have been blazed, both literally and figuratively, throughout the region and how the past intersects with the present. The star used in the logo is a six-point star, symbolizing the North Star, used in the Underground Railroad as a guide.

Graphic Standards
As the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area logo is more widely-introduced it is critical to ensure that its visual integrity – its colors and graphics – remain consistent. In order to achieve this, graphics standards have been developed for the FFNHA logo and text. All communications and applications of the logo should remain within this umbrella.

Graphic standards have been established for the FFNHA logo. The complete set of standards is available online and will accompany any granted request for logo usage. Basic graphic standards are discussed in the section below.

Guidelines for Use
Projects of FFNHA will incorporate the FFNHA logo, provided the following guidelines are considered:
  •  The logo and text should be used together, as defined.
  •  The typeface shall not be altered or replaced with another.
  •  The proportions of logo and text shall be retained.
  •  The logo may be resized to accommodate a specific use, but the text must remain legible.
  •  The color of the logo shall not be altered in any way, other than to reproduce in black and white when necessary.

Acceptable External Use
Any organization’s website including the logo on their website must meet the following requirements:
  •  Be located within the boundaries of Freedom’s Frontier.
  •  Have signed a Partner Pledge.
  •  Have submitted a letter of commitment.
  •  Have a mutual interest with Freedom’s Frontier.
  •  Work to build understanding, generate excitement and expand local participation in Freedom’s Frontier.
  •  Help to better the understanding of the region.
  •  Historic sites and museums must have a Freedom’s Frontier microsite prior to using the logo on their website.
  •  The FFNHA logo shall be hyperlinked to the Freedom’s Frontier website. FFNHA will provide the graphic button that organizations should use for this hyperlink. Any deviation from this graphic must be approved by the FFNHA office.

Any organization including the logo on their printed material must meet the following requirements:
  •  Be located within the boundaries of Freedom’s Frontier.
  •  Have signed a Partner Pledge.
  •  Have submitted a letter of commitment.
  •  Have a mutual interest with Freedom’s Frontier.
  •  Work to build understanding, generate excitement and expand local participation in Freedom’s Frontier.
  •  Help to better the understanding of the region.
  •  Historic sites and museums must have a Freedom’s Frontier microsite prior to using the logo on their printed/collateral material.

Promotional Material for Events:
Use of the logo for promotional material for events (fliers, brochures, etc.) must be submitted for prior approval to the FFNHA office. Requests must be made one month in advance. Address all requests to [email protected].

Signage:
At this time, the FFNHA logo shall not be used on any signage. The use of the logo on signage will be addressed in the upcoming FFNHA signage study.

Prohibited Use
It is our policy that the FFNHA logo be used without modification and in an appropriate manner. Examples of prohibited use include, but are not limited to, the following:
  •  Any implication of endorsement by the organization.
  •  Commercial uses (placement of the logo on product packaging).

Requests For Use Outside Described Scope
Requests for use of the logo which fall outside the scope of the policy, or proposed variations on the logo design are to be brought to the attention of Freedom’s Frontier. Requests must be made one month in advance. Address all requests to [email protected].