Mt Sunflower, Kansas |
 Situated roughly in the centre of the contiguous 48 states of the USA, Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state on 29 January 1861, just two-and-a-half months before the start of the Civil War. The bitter struggle between abolitionists and pro-slavery settlers that preceded statehood is reflected in Kansas’ Latin motto: Ad astra per aspera – To the stars through difficulties. The fact that Kansas became the USA’s 34th state is illustrated by the 34 stars on its flag, while the state flower, a sunflower, can be seen above the state seal. |