Positioned in the geographic center of the contiguous 48 states, Kansas has played a vital role in the nation’s development.

From its Native American roots— the state is named for the Kansa tribe— Kansas has been both eyewitness and participant to history. No state, literally or figuratively, has been more in the middle of America’s fascinating story than the Sunflower State.

Culled from Library of Congress and Kansas Historical Society collections, the nearly 200 striking black-and-white images in Historic Photos of Kansas trace a progression from “Bleeding Kansas,” a period of violent struggle between free-state abolitionists and pro-slavery sympathizers, to the state’s many contributions to westward expansion, railroads, agriculture, and America at war.

Although these photos speak for themselves, when combined with captions and chapter introductions, they will transport curious readers to a close-up view of Kansans helping to write history.