Today, I’m going to paste my schedule in to show you what we are doing here.
Of the places we visited yesterday, the Arabia Museum impressed me the most. All of them were interesting and a vital part of history but the hands on do it ourselves attitude of, Dave, our guide and one of the owner of the museum, won top exhibit for me. He and his family actually excavated the steam ship Arabia, set up the museum and are still working the exhibits consisting of one of the largest catches of 19th century materials ever excavated from one ship before. They did it all without any grants or funding and are flourishing today by doing all their own work. Hats off to the real American spirit.

Stature of a Buffalo Soldier
The second most interesting stop on our schedule was the Trails Museum. This museum had so much memorabilia tracing the history of America’s westward expansion over the Santa Fe, Oregon, California and Mormon Trails.
The Buffalo Soldier Museum on Fort Leavenworth and the Anderson House and the Battle of Lexington were also interesting.
Lunch was Painies and salad at Mama Mia’s. It was served in the garden and very appealing.
Dinner was at Ophelia’s and quite fancy and delicious.
Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area
Travel Media Showcase FAM Tour
Explore the pre‐Civil War and Civil War history, culture, and landscape within the Freedom’s Frontier
National Heritage Area, an area comprised of historic and cultural sites in eastern‐Kansas and western‐
Missouri. Visit sites and hear about the stories and people that contributed to our national and individual
freedoms and learn from various perspectives. Hear from historians why the Border War still resonates
today, 150 years later.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2008
9:00am Depart Westin Crown Center
9:00am – 10:00am Travel to Fort Leavenworth, KS
10:00am – 10:30am Buffalo Soldier Monument, Fort Leavenworth
Nearly sixteen months after the end of the Civil War, Congress authorized the
formation of the two regiments of cavalry composed of “colored” men. On September
21, 1866, the 10th Cavalry Regiment was activated at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Under the competent leadership of Col. Benjamin Grierson, first Regimental
Commander of the 10th Cavalry Regiment, the regiment was trained, equipped and
began a long and proud history.
10:30am – 11:30am Brunch in Leavenworth, June’s Cafe
11:30am – 12:30pm Travel to Steamboat Arabia 40 miles, 1 hour
12:30pm – 1:30pm Steamboat Arabia ‐ 400 Grand Blvd. KC, MO
The Arabia Steamboat Museum is home to a true time capsule of frontier life in the
1800s. Museum showcases the recovered contents of the steamboat Arabia, which
sank in 1856 on the Missouri River.
1:30pm – 2:30pm Travel to Lexington, MO
2:45pm – 4:00pm Anderson House/Battle of Lexington
1861 Civil War battlefield featuring original entrenchments and the Anderson House
which changed hands during the battle.
4:00pm – 4:45pm Travel to Independence, MO
4:45pm Check‐in hotel, Holiday Inn Express, Independence, MO
6:00pm‐ 7:00pm National Frontier Trails Museum
The National Frontier Trails Museum is the only museum in the nation devoted to the
three great western routes: the Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails. Located in
Independence, MO, the principal “jumping off” point for all three trails, the museum
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highlights the unique features of each trail and their dramatic impact on American
History.
7:00pm – 8:00pm Dinner ‐ Ophelia’s, Independence, MO
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2008
8:00am – 8:45am Breakfast at Holiday Inn Express
9:00am – 9:45am Travel to Harrisonville, MO
10:00am – 11:00am Harrisonville
Tour 1835 cabin that survived the CW, furnished in CW era. Short 10‐15 minute play
Driving tour will include: Murals ‐ 1861 Jayhawkers raid on Harrisonville and 1863
Order #11 burning, Cole Younger, View Burnt District Monument
11:00am – 11:45am Travel to Olathe, KS
12:00pm – 2:00pm Lunch and tour Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm
Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm Historic Site is the only Santa Fe Trail stagecoach
stop that is open to the public. The farm was established in 1858 and the existing
home was built in 1865 and used as a stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail. There
are three 19th century buildings as well as several 20th century and reconstructed
buildings.
2:00pm – 2:30pm Travel to Baldwin City, KS
2:30pm – 3:30pm Black Jack Battlefield and Santa Fe Trail Ruts
Learn the story of the Battle of Black Jack from re‐enactors or docents in period
dress; you may even be introduced to John Brown himself. You will hear of the
historic battle of 1856 while walking through the actual battlefield, the site of the June
2, 1856 battle between John Brown and the Free‐State militia and Pro‐Slavery militia of
Henry C. Pate. Brown called this action “the first regular battle fought between Free‐State
and Pro‐Slavery men in Kansas.”
3:30pm – 4:00pm Travel to Lawrence, KS
4:00pm – 4:30pm Haskell Indian Nations University, Oak Hill Cemetery, Quantrill’s Raid
William Allen White once called Oak Hill “The Kansas Arlington” due to the number
of influential people buried here. Built in 1865 to honor Quantrill’s Raid victims, this
rural‐design cemetery is the final resting place for many Raid victims, several
Territorial‐period legislators, abolitionists including James Lane and John Speer, poet
Langston Hughes’ grandparents, Dr. Forrest C. “Phog” Allen, the “father of basketball
coaching,” and others.
4:45pm – 5:30pm Check‐in Holiday Inn, Lawrence
5:30pm – 6:00pm Travel to Lecompton, KS
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6:00pm – 7:30pm Dinner and Lecompton Players
Tour Constitution Hall then enjoy dinner at Territorial Capital during Lecompton
Players performance.
James Henry Lane had a significant impact on Kansas history and is one of
Constitution Hall’s more colorful characters. He was part of a large antislavery
delegation that marched into Lecompton to protest the convening of the pro‐slavery
Lecompton Constitutional Convention in the fall of 1857. The nation’s eyes were
fixed on this site, waiting to see what kind of constitution would be drafted and
whether Kansas would join the Union as a free or slave state. Learn more about Lane
and the proslavery and free‐state forces in the area.
The Lecompton re‐ enactors portray Kansas Territorial characters such as John
Brown, Jim Lane, Charles Robinson, Clarina Nichols, Sara Robinson and Sen. David
Atchison. The play reveals the wide spectrum of personalities and opinions which
existed in Kansas Territory from 1854 to 1861.
7:30pm – 8:00pm Return to Lawrence, KS
8:00pm – 9:00pm Dessert and drinks at the Eldridge Hotel and stroll Downtown Lawrence
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2008
8:00am – 9:00am Breakfast at hotel‐ at your leisure
9:00am – 9:30am Travel to Topeka
9:30am – 10:30am Brown v Board Historic Site
The Road to Justice The story of Brown v. Board of Education, which ended legal
segregation in public schools, is one of hope and courage. When the people agreed to
be plaintiffs in the case, they never knew they would change history. The people who
make up this story were ordinary people. They were teachers, secretaries, welders,
ministers and students who simply wanted to be treated equally.
10:30am – 12:00pm Travel to Kansas City International Airport