The Big Divide: A Travel Guide to Historic and Civil War Sites in the Missouri-Kansas Border Region - Softcover

Diane Eickhoff; Aaron Barnhart

4.27

33 ratings by Goodreads

9780976443414: The Big Divide: A Travel Guide to Historic and Civil War Sites in the Missouri-Kansas Border Region

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0976443414 ISBN 13: 9780976443414

Publisher: Quindaro Press, 2013

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

2015 Update now available with NEW preface: 'The Hinges of History'The Missouri-Kansas state line is the most consequential border in American history:

Here was where the Civil War began -- don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Here was where legends were made before (John Brown), during (William Clarke Quantrill), and after the war (Jesse James).
Here was where African American regiments first saw combat, even as Washington was debating the value of black soldiers.

Here you can visit the school that set off the civil rights movement ... walk the country's last great stretch of prairie ... and tour the house where a girl named Amelia learned she could do anything.
Just some of the reasons why the Missouri-Kansas Border Region has become one of the country's premier destinations for history travel.
Diane and Aaron will show you to the sites that matter and help you make the most of your visit. Trip planning is easy with this guide, which is packed with themed driving tours, kid-friendly sites, and tips from two experienced history travelers.
Take a ride on The Big Divide! "Recommended ... American history lovers will appreciate this well-illustrated, well-ordered guide." --Booklist (April 1, 2013) "Long before the cannons roared at Fort Sumter, Americans were at war over slavery along the border dividing Missouri and Kansas. This neglected first act of the Civil War comes to life in The Big Divide. Brilliantly organized, vividly written, this wonderful travel guide lets you discover vital and dramatic history for yourself, in the matchless company of Diane Eickhoff and Aaron Barnhart. Get ready for a fascinating journey." -- David Von Drehle, author of Rise to Greatness: Abraham Lincoln and America's Most Perilous Year

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap:

"Recommended ... American history lovers will appreciate this well-illustrated, well-ordered guide to historical sites." source: Booklist, April 1, 2013 "Thorough and surprisingly versatile ... Recommended for Civil War buffs, regional collections, and road trippers looking for their next itinerary." source: Library Journal, June 21, 2013 "Truly comprehensive ... certain to direct your attention to places you never knew existed." source: Jon Albee, Top Amazon travel reviewer "Unlike a typical travel guide, the Big Divide is organized thematically rather than geographically. Each chapter begins with a narrative that places its sites in broad historical context and is followed by site descriptions and reviews. Even locals may be surprised at the significant history just around the corner." source: Kansas History, Autumn 2013 "The inclusiveness of this travel guide serves as its true strength. ... Capturing the geographical and cultural landscape of any region is difficult. Eickhoff and Barnhart have managed to accomplish this task well within this travel guide." source: Emerging Civil War

About the Author:

Diane Eickhoff, an editor turned historian, published her first biography, Revolutionary Heart, with Quindaro Press in 2006. It was named a Kansas Notable Book by the State Library of Kansas and honored with a Willa Cather Award and ForeWord’s gold medal for biography. Aaron Barnhart was television critic for the Kansas City Star from 1997 to 2012. In 2010 Quindaro published a collection of his criticism, Tasteland. In addition to their “Hinges of History” presentations, Diane and Aaron both lecture regularly for the Kansas and Missouri humanities councils. They are at work on two nonfiction narratives. Diane and Aaron are married and live two blocks from the Missouri-Kansas state line.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.