Crossroads of a Nation

As part of the Missouri Humanities Council's celebration of America250, I’m partnering with them to produce a three-part documentary series exploring the history of Missouri and its impact on the history of the United States. Missouri Humanities is dedicated to enriching lives and strengthening communities by connecting Missourians with the people, places, and ideas that shape our society. Learn more and get involved here.

Part I is currently airing on PBS and can be streamed on H-TV, the Missouri Humanities Council’s content hub, with Part II and Part III debuting November of 2025 and April of 2026.

Crossroads of a Nation, Part I: Missouri’s Indelible Role In American History, is the first part of the series, exploring the history of Missouri and its impact on broader US history as the nation expanded west across the continent. I had the opportunity to sit down with historians and dive deep into little-known stories of America’s early history, and how Missouri’s unique position at the confluence of the continent’s great rivers positioned the region as a fulcrum of events that continue to resonate across America. From the region’s indigenous cultures to Lewis and Clark’s groundbreaking journey, the rise of steamships to the Dred and Harriet Scott case, up to the brink of Civil War, this film traces Missouri’s indelible -- and undeniable -- mark on American history, which helped shape the nation into what it is today. Stream the full documentary on h-tv.org.

Crossroads of a Nation, Part II: Missouri’s Rifts, Roads and Civil Rights traces the state’s complex transformation from a battleground of Civil War loyalties to a keystone in America’s mid-century modernization. Through archival images and expert commentary, the film explores how post-war reconstruction, the expansion of infrastructure and the long, unfinished fight for racial justice intersected across Missouri and helped shape American history. From the turmoil of border-state violence to the momentum of Route 66 and the grassroots power of the civil rights movement, this documentary reveals how Missouri’s history echoes the broader American story – complex, driven and still evolving.