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

Sorry, but your history teacher was wrong--the Civil War started in the West, not the East, on the prairies of Kansas. And contrary to what you saw at the movies, it was in Missouri where African American soldiers first fought and died for their freedom. Those are just two of the eye-opening findings about the Missouri-Kansas Border Region in this "well-organized"' ("Booklist") and "surprisingly versatile" ("Library Journal") road trip guide for history buffs, budget travelers, and families. First released in 2013, "The Big Divide" has made its way into thousands of glove boxes and travel bags. Readers learn the Border Region's pivotal role throughout American history, from westward expansion to Indian policy to the Border War to Missouri's role in the Civil War, right through to the 20th century with Harry Truman and the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. "The Big Divide" features 130 hand-selected sites and battlefields, themed driving tours, kid-friendly sites, maps, informative essays, and the insights of two experienced road trippers.

Diane Eickhoff is a historian, author, and speaker specializing in the hidden history of America and the unsung women and men who worked to make this a better country. Diane's first book was "Revolutionary Heart: The Life of Clarina Nichols and the Pioneering Crusade for Women's Rights." It was honored with a Willa Cather Award and "ForeWord Magazine"'s Book of the Year in biography, and was named a Kansas Notable Book for 2007. She lives with her husband and co-author, Aaron Barnhart, in Kansas City, two blocks from the Missouri state line.Aaron Barnhart was the television and media critic for the Kansas City Star before joining his wife, Diane Eickhoff, in the history business. He has contributed to the "New York Times," "Village Voice," CNN's Reliable Sources, MSNBC's Hardball, CBS Radio, and NPR.