Heart of the Nation
In the middle, but never on the fence. That’s Kansas City. Located near the true geographic and population centers of the country, Kansas City truly sits at the heart of the nation. And, throughout history, that position on the map has meant both good times and bad times for our town.
During the Civil War, factions from both sides divided families and farms in Missouri and Kansas, erupting in skirmishes up and down the state line. One of the most infamous events of the war took place in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1863, where 150 Union-sympathizing residents were killed by a band of Confederate guerrillas. The guerrillas led by William Clarke Quantrill, included Frank James, Jesse’s brother.
Today, the cannon smoke has cleared and Kansas City is reaping the benefits of bi-state cooperation. Residents on both sides of the state line join together regularly for the common good of the metro area. The most recent effort was raising the funds and support to renovate Union Station as a dining and entertainment destination, as well as raising the funds to renovate the Liberty Memorial, the country’s only memorial to World War I.
Courtesy hmdb.org
