Missouri Humanities is back with a new installment of “Crossroads of a Nation!” Nationwide distribution for “Crossroads of a Nation Part I” began in March 2025. Our hour-long documentary, produced by Cat Neville, details the region’s indigenous cultures up to the brink of the Civil War. “Crossroads of a Nation Part I” traces Missouri’s mark on American history and its role in shaping the nation that we are today.
I am proud to share that the story continues this year with “Crossroads of a Nation Part II: Missouri’s Rifts, Roads, and Civil Rights.” This new documentary explores the Civil War through Post-Industrial America. The film is airing on PBS stations across the country. Check out your local station schedule for the date and time to view the film in your community. Meanwhile, you can watch the trailer on H-TV at h-tv.org/programs/crossroads_part2.
There is a compelling line in “Crossroads of a Nation Part II” that resonates with me. It is, “Missouri’s story is inseparable from the story of America.” This could not be truer, and next year, Missouri Humanities will dedicate the entire year to America250 as we tell “The Story of US.” Grounded in the ideals of civic engagement, “The Story of US” encourages reflection, connection, and dialogue—inviting Missourians to learn from the past, engage with the present, and imagine the future of the American experiment.
Key components of the series will include:
- New episodes of “Crossroads of a Nation”
- A Semiquincentennial Traveling Exhibit developed in partnership with the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy
- The implementation of 41 Semiquincentennial grant-funded projects hosted in communities across the state
- 2026 Lt. Governor’s Humanities Celebration to be hosted in February in Jefferson City
- The Story of US Social Media Storytelling Campaign
As part of our inner circle, I invite you to participate in all of these activities. Join me for Missouri’s celebration of the American story.
Another line from the new “Crossroads of a Nation” film that jumped out at me is: “The road ahead is full of stories and Missouri has miles of them.” Missouri’s stories are certainly noteworthy and deserve preservation and interpretation, but in our modern times, the road ahead looks treacherous. We have found ourselves at a crossroads at Missouri Humanities over the last year, as we faced unexpected budget cuts and a changing landscape that struggles to understand the value and importance of history and culture.
In response, I am asking our humanities community to rally to our support. Specifically, please consider making a donation of any amount to our Humanities 100 campaign. Your contribution will go twice as far in keeping Missouri Humanities vibrant and alive for future generations, because all donations will be generously matched by the Federation of State Humanities Councils with support from the Mellon Foundation. There has never been a better time to make a difference at mohumanities.org/donate/. The bottom line is that we cannot do this work without you, and I thank you for your support as we work to build a more thoughtful, informed, and civil society through the power of the humanities.
