This year is the beginning of the Civil War Sesquicentennial, and right in the middle of the history of the Civil War in this area is Jesse James. His farm in Excelsior Springs is just a short way from Dearborn, and many other historical sites like Fort Leavenworth and Westport are just a daytrip from here.
Continuing with the theme from last week's post about the Civil War, it's interesting that, for many, the War began in 1854 and not 1861. There were many bloody and violent skirmishes on the western border of Missouri between Kansas Free Staters and Missouri slaveholders during that time.
