Bleeding Kansas

Abolitionist John Brown wasn't born in Kansas, but made his mark during the Bleeding Kansas era before the Civil War. Today, 165 years after his execution, Brown's violent acts and influence are commemorated across the state of Kansas — including the site of the Pottawatomie massacre.

As the country battled over the issue of slavery, what happened within these halls pushed America closer to civil war.

Two of the oldest buildings in Kansas reflect the struggle between pro-slavery and free-state factions, and the play-by-play legend describes how he prepares for each game.

The namesake of Sumner Academy in Kansas City, Kansas, was almost killed on the U.S. Senate floor for his "Crime Against Kansas" speech in 1856. Now, a photo from the insurrection this month has people remembering U.S. Sen. Charles Sumner's story.

The Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area nonprofit preserves historic sites on both sides of the state line, which has historically been an arena for fights over the meaning of freedom.

How a national heritage group is preserving historical sites in Kansas and Missouri, a preview of the third season of a Kansas News Service podcast, and the return of a dedicated classical music station to Kansas City's radio dial.

Segment 1: New paintings by a Kansas City artist examine the 'brash volume' of public discourse.Rodeo clowns, talkshow hosts, preachers. To Michael…

Kansas City has long been a prime example of state tax incentives gone awry — the question now is if Kansas and Missouri can change the dynamic with a new…

Vegetarians have their reasons for not eating meat. But "I am an optimist" doesn't have a regular spot on lists more typically focused on health and…

Partnering, in dance as in life, requires trust, collaboration and strength. Jokes are important, too.“I’ve learned over the years that you have to leave…

Nell Johnson Doerr’s husband rolled her up in a carpet so she’d survive Quantrill’s 1863 raid on Lawrence. Lying alongside the limestone foundation of her…

This essay is part of "What It Means to Be American," a project of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and Arizona State University,…