Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area

Twice when the United States faced existential conflicts about questions of race and rights, our region was at the conflict’s center.  That central role lead the Congress to create the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA).  Congress and the National Park Service said those nationally-significant stories included the settlement of the frontier, the Border War and Civil War on the western frontier, and the enduring struggle for Freedom.  More than 185 Partner sites tell one, two, or all three of these stories in this dual state, the 41-county region centered along the Kansas-Missouri border.  What are those stories, and how did they impact America?  That is the mission of FFNHA-- to tell the stories of the struggles for Freedom in our region and their lasting impact on our nation. 

Jim Ogle serves as Executive Director of FFNHA.  With its headquarters based in Lawrence, the non-profit connects those 185 partners through their shared stories.  Ogle is a long-time Rotarian and a seven-time Paul Harris fellow.  He calls the Topeka club (formerly the downtown Rotary club) home. Still, he enjoys the opportunity to visit other Rotary clubs throughout the district and region to tell the story of our shared history.