To the editor:

Recent national and state publications have written articles about the museum and historical events which occurred in Lecompton and led to the Civil War. Home and Away magazine states: “The traumatic era of Bleeding Kansas began 150 years ago in Lecompton.” Country Discovers explained how a small town in Kansas lit a political fuse in 1857 and figured prominently in the Abraham Lincoln-Stephen Douglas race and the U.S. Congress. Midwest Traveler discusses the museums and how they include rare treasures found only in larger museums and private collections.

Lecompton also was part of articles in Smithsonian, Kansas magazine, Kansas Heritage and Slate, Microsoft’s news magazine.

The history of Lecompton and Douglas County was a major player in 1850s American history. Securing the “Bleeding Kansas National Heritage Area,” which Judy Billings is directing, will only add to the prestige of our history.

We hope Douglas County and Hamm Construction Company will continue the excellent progress toward completion of the road work on County Road 1029. This will allow tourists to visit our historic community from the turnpike and enjoy the history and Territorial Day on June 26. We will dedicate Territorial Democratic Headquarters on that day.

Paul Bahnmaier,

Lecompton