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Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri, on May 8, 1844. However, Truman spent much of his life in Independence, both before his time as president of the United States and after. He was known for his presence in Independence around town as well as in the Truman Library &amp; Museum, much larger today than in Truman's lifetime. Even after his death on December 26, 1972, Truman remained a community figure of Independence.This is one spot on a walking tour to learn more about Truman's life in Independence as well as his personal habits, philosophies, and political life outside of Independence, Missouri.

Here is the Ginkgo tree in front of the Wright/Prewitt House. 

Harry S. Truman frequently passed this Ginkgo tree in front of the Wright/Prewitt House on his walks around Independence. Many locals say that on these walks, Truman would stop by the tree and tell it that it was doing a good job and to keep up the good work. Truman was a regular walker and appreciated the exercise. Many people noted that he walked rather quickly after coming home from World War I, likely a result of his military training. However, his pace slowed as he retired to Independence and his regular presence around town contributed to his reputation as a friendly, approachable local celebrity.Listen to the audio to learn more about what Truman and his friends said about his walking habit, both in Independence and other places!

Play this when you reach the ginkgo tree! 

Ginkgo Tree

This walking tour includes stops at Independence landmarks related to the life of Harry S Truman, the 33rd President of the United States.  While in office, Truman presided over the end of World War II and made efforts to use the power of the federal government to confront poverty and some of the most prevalent forms of racial discrimination. These domestic efforts were often overshadowed by foreign policy initiatives related to the start of the Cold War, including the decision to send troops to Korea and the Truman Doctrine which would shape foreign policy for 40 years.  Long before he would take these actions, however, Harry Truman was a young man shaped by people and institutions in Independence, Missouri. This tour traces his humble beginnings and showcases the places and events that shaped his worldview.  The tour offers the chance to enjoy a walk through Independence as you learn about the Truman family, Harry Truman's first occupations, and the lasting legacy of Truman's life in the community he called home. In addition to this tour which focusses on Independence, there are several Clio entries for other landmarks in the Kansas City metro related to Truman's life such as the Truman Family Farm in Grandview: https://theclio.com/entry/37844

The fire station replaced a smaller, older station. Local architect Hal Wheelock designed it (and other buildings in the city). The new firehouse also became home to the new 750 gallon American La France fire trucks. Several decades later, the station was no longer adequate and the fire department moved out. For a time, it was used as a community theater and then in the 1970s it housed municipal offices. The National Park Service became the new tenant in 1983 after the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site was created.

Located at the historic 1928 Independent Fire Station No. 1, the Harry Truman National Historic Site Visitor's Center displays information about the 33rd President and offers directions to the nearby Truman farm and Truman home. Visitors should start here to begin touring the city. The fire station is a contributing property to the Harry S. Truman National Historic Landmark District. 

Harry Truman National Historic Site Visitor Center

The courtroom is significant because of its connection to Truman who made his name in politics while serving as judge of Jackson County. As a county administrator, Truman improved county finances, built a county road system, and oversaw the construction of a county hospital.1 Truman’s tenure as county judge provided the foundation for his future political career as a U.S. Senator, Vice-President, and later as President.According to Edgar Hinde, Truman friend and former postmaster for the City of Independence, Truman, “was a power in politics around here. Because everybody respected Truman. They knew he was absolutely honest and everybody had a lot of respect for him. He ran the county in the proper manner and he conducted himself in the same way. He had a lot of power, I'll tell you. He had a lot of followers.”2 This quote shows the importance and success of Truman at home and beyond and it sums up some of the strengths of his character. For these reasons and more, the courthouse has also become a symbol for many politicians trying to associate themselves with Truman. Many presidents have also given speeches on the courthouse steps.

The courthouse located at 112 West Lexington Avenue in Independence served as one of the two sites that Truman worked at while serving first as eastern district judge from 1922-24, and then as presiding judge from 1926-34 in Jackson County. The first courthouse was constructed in 1836 and has been remodeled multiple times since. Truman oversaw the 1933 remodeling of the courthouse in the colonial revival style. Today the courthouse serves as the home of the Jackson County Historical Society. They provide guided tours and historical interpretation. In addition to that, they also operate a History Center, an Archives and Research Center, the Old Jail, a gallery of George Caleb Bingham paintings, and Harry S. Truman's office and courtroom. The courthouse also now houses offices for Jackson County’s Assessment, Collections and Recorder of Deeds Departments, as well as the Independence Tourism Department.Listen to the audio to learn more about Harry S. Truman's early political life!

Historic Truman Courthouse

As a fourteen-year-old teenager, Harry S. Truman began working at Clinton's Drug Store. Truman recalls the job fondly: <blockquote>"I can remember the first $3.00 I received for working a week-seven days from seven o'clock until school time and from four o'clock until ten at night, all day Saturday and Sunday. I had to wipe off bottles, mop the floor every morning, make ice cream for sodas, and wait on the customers…. The three silver dollars looked like three million and meant a lot more. I bought a present for Mamma and tried to give the rest of it to my dad and he wouldn't take it. It was as I say a great day all around when I got the $3.00. I've never had as much or as big a payday since."</blockquote>Clinton's Drug Store was located at 100 West Maple Street, in a building that was a part of the Independence town square. The original structure was built as a wood-frame housing the Noland House which served those traveling over the emigrant trails. The house was destroyed by a fire and was rebuilt with brick and was ran as a hotel between the 1880s and 1890s. However, George Clinton bought the building and opened a drug store on the first floor during the mid-1890s. Clinton also created spaces for businesses and city offices within the structure. In 1906, the entire block caught on fire, again, and was destroyed. In response, James Clinton, the brother of George Clinton, bought the badly damaged building and quickly planned to build a new building on the same lot.President Truman worked at Clinton's Drug Store in 1898 under the direction of George Clinton. His time there helped shape how Harry S. Truman viewed the importance of hard work. His dedication to hard work would continue to shape him throughout his young adult years and his time in the military. Ultimately, his hard-work ethic played a role in his elections and later years.

This building is most notable for a teenage employee who worked at Clinton's Drug Store and went on to become President of the United States. In his first week of work, a fourteen-year-old Harry S. Truman earned three silver dollars which he chose to spend on a present for his mother. Prior to that time, this location was home to a wood-frame general store in the late 19th century. That original store was rebuilt as a brick structure following a fire. George Clinton bought the building and established a drug store on the main level in the mid-1890s. In February 1906, the two neighboring blocks where Clinton’s Drug Store was located was destroyed by fire. George Clinton’s brother, James, chose to buy the damaged building in May and planned to demolish the existing building and replace it. The building now stands as a rectangle, two-story, commercial building on the corner of West Maple Street and North Main Street.Listen to the audio to learn more about Truman's thoughts on his first job!

Clinton's Drug Store

Trinity Episcopal is a one-story brick church with a rectangular shape and a rectangular extension/addition in the rear. The red brick exterior with mock flying buttresses projecting from the side walls coincide with an ocular window on west-facing façade above the vestibule. The church also has stained glass windows with pointed arches separated by engaged buttresses projecting from the north and south side walls of nave. A steeply-pitched gabled roof over the nave contains a stepped, thin belfry tower at the west façade gable end, with double-leaf doors in slightly projecting enclosed porch with gable roof leading intovestibule. Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 409 N. Liberty St, in Independence.

This site is historically significant, as it was where Harry Truman and Bess Wallace were married on June 28, 1919. In addition to Truman and his wife being married in Trinity Episcopal, Truman’s daughter Margaret married her husband Clifton Daniel there as well on April 21, 1956. Bess Truman’s funeral was also held at Trinity Episcopal in October of 1982. The Trinity Episcopal Church is reported to be the only example of the work of John Hubbard Sturgis, who introduced the Victorian Gothic design to the United States, west of the Allegheny Mountains. P. Morgan constructed the church foundation.Listen to the audio clip above to learn more about the Truman's wedding here!

Trinity Episcopal Church 

While you cannot go inside, you can appreciate the beautiful Queen Anne frame house construction and learn more about Harry S. Truman's thoughts on education, especially within his own home. Truman was adamant that his only child, his daughter, Margaret, receive the best possible education and regularly checked up on her progress while he was away from home through letters.The Palmer family lived in this home for over one hundred years until it was closed for substantial updates and renovations. It is now a private family home and not open for visitors. This street has many homes marked for historic reasons, because they belonged to a family known in the Trumans' circle. You can see a complete list in the City of Independence's Truman Walking Tour, linked below.

This is a private home that was owned by the Palmer family when the Wallace and Truman families were growing up in Independence, Missouri. The home was built in the 1890s and William L. C. Palmer owned it with his wife Ardelia. Palmer was the Superintendent of Independence Schools and Ardelia was a schoolteacher, both of whom taught the Truman and Wallace children.Listen to the audio clip above to hear about how Harry S. Truman prodded his daughter, Margaret, about her studies!

Palmer House

The Truman home located at 219 Delaware Street was not exactly "the Truman Home." Today that is certainly what it is known as but it was not official until 1952, just before Truman vacated the Oval Office. The structure was originally built by George Gates in 1867 following the conclusion of the Civil War. Originally the home was minuscule compared to its current stature. Gates would build upon his work in 1885 creating one of the larger homes located in Independence with an impressive 14 rooms and over 8,000 square footage. Before it became significant for the man who called it home in the 20th century, the residence was already of great importance and high opinion locally.Two years before he made his grand addition to the house, George Gates gave his daughter away for the bond of holy matrimony to David Wallace in 1883. The young couple moved 2 miles away into a quaint house located at 117 W Ruby and they would start their new family from there. The Wallaces family would welcome their first child in 1885 and would name her Elizabeth or Bess as she is known to many today. When Elizabeth was two years of age, the Wallaces once again moved to 608 N Delaware in 1887, this time within two blocks of the Gates house. The Wallace family would live at his location for another 16 years.In 1903 David Wallace committed suicide leaving his family with a large rift and shock. To cope and get away from their grief, Margaret Wallace moved her children and herself to Colorado for a year. When the family returned after their hiatus they moved into the Gates home at 219 N Delaware. In 1919, Bess would marry a young Harry Truman. The festivities following the wedding would actually be held on the Gates grounds. Harry and Elizabeth(Bess) Truman would then move into the house along with Bess's mother and grandmother who owned the property. In 1924, the Truman's welcomed their one and only daughter, Margaret Truman. Harry became the official head of the house as the oldest male and because of his strong public stature. The Truman household was very tight-knit and family-oriented featuring a large number of family members living in the main house and Mrs. Truman's younger brother's building small residences on the grounds. This is the home that Harry Truman would inhabit while he served as a judge, Senator, Vice-President, and Commander in Chief.  When Harry Truman finally left the White House in 1953, he returned home to Independence and his newly owned home. Elizabeth's mother Margaret passed away in 1952 leaving the house to Harry and Elizabeth. At this point, 219 N Delaware officially became the Truman Home. The President would use the residence as his personal office and base of operations for a handful of years before he set up and established his personal Presidential Library. In the years leading up to his death in 1972, the President and his wife made major renovations and changes to the home to solidify that it would remain for years to come and also to match their personal tastes. After the President passed in 1972, Elizabeth became the owner and when she passed a decade later in 1982 she left the building and grounds to the National Park Service. She left it on the condition that the upper floor never is open to the public to preserve the privacy of the family until Margaret Truman would die in 2008. Once Margaret did pass, the National Park Service honored the former First Lady's wishes and the upper levels still remain closed in solidarity. Photo tours can be taken of the President and First Ladies' bedroom, however.

A farmer, a father, a scholar, public servant, husband, President, and man lived in this house for decades. Harry S Truman is often overlooked as far as American leaders are concerned, but he showed dedication and willpower to lead this nation to stand the test of time. Truman's life filled with expanding power never deterred his tendency to remember where he came from. 219 Delaware Street in the small town of Independence was where President Truman hung his hat beginning in 1919 until his death in 1972. He raised a family and built a legacy while inhabiting this classically designed home. Today it remains as a memorial to Truman and his accomplishments as well as his down to Earth nature.Play the audio above when you are in front of the Truman Home to learn more about the family's time there!

Harry S Truman National Historic Site - Truman Home

Harry Truman was born in 1884 in the small town of Lamar, Missouri. The first of three children, Truman was born into a family of modest resources who relied on their parents for support during the first few years of young Harry's life. Harry was remembered as a happy child in his early years, but it would take him years to develop his ease in making friends and being social. The introverted child's outlook changed when his mother took him to buy glasses, although some of his peers made fun of him and he remembered learning to avoid altercations in early life. Truman’s younger brother, Vivian, described young Harry as “serious” and said that their friends respected Harry because he would straighten out any situation and was very knowledgeable for their age. Still, Truman was introverted and had a hard time interacting with others until the Truman family moved.By 1895, Harry Truman’s father, John, could afford to move his family to this property on Waldo Street. The new neighborhood helped Harry, now age eleven, to make new friends. As a young teenager, Harry turned his house into the unofficial hub for all the adolescent children. In his own words, Harry now had a “gang.” Truman believed that the move to this home was key to developing the social skill that would serve him in his future political career.It was also during this period that Harry’s relationship grew with his future wife, Bessie Wallace. The two met in fourth grade and were always seated near each other. The move now meant that the future couple lived within two blocks of one another. They became closer and closer until Harry moved again when he was seventeen to live on his grandmother’s farm.In the decades that followed the Truman family’s departure from Waldo Street, the house passed to different owners. Subsequent families expanded the home beyond its original size, but the structure still retains many of the original structural elements from the late 19th century.

Future President Harry S. Truman spent part of his childhood in this historic Independence home which was built around 1886. The Truman family moved here ten years later, and today, it is a contributing property of the Harry S. Truman National Historic District. The structure continues to serve as a private family home, although a historical marker located in front of the house is available for all to see.

Harry S. Truman Boyhood Home

African Americans contributed significantly to the city's early development, beginning in 1826 when Jackson County was founded. Independence became the starting point of the Santa Fe Trail, which was one of the main trails that lead settlers to the West. Many people, including slaveholders and free Blacks, came to Independence to supply these settlers with supplies and other provisions.The African American community grew in the coming decades and established civic organizations, founded churches, and called for schools to be established. By 1900, the community was thriving and produced a number of notable residents including poet Melvin Tolson. However, the community began to struggle during the Great Depression and afterward as well. In the 1950s, the city grew worried about the neighborhood and decided to redevelop it, ultimately concluding that it should become a park in the 1960s. Not surprisingly, residents strongly opposed the plan. Despite their efforts, the plan moved forward and the park was created as part a larger urban renewal effort undertaken by the city.

Embedded into the sidewalk is this small historical marker which describes an important part of the city's African American history. McCoy Park, which is across the street, was once a segregated and mostly African American neighborhood called "The Neck" that was razed in the 1960s so it could become the park. The marker is part of the Truman Historic Walking Tour.Listen to the audio above to learn more about Truman's stances on racial equality!

Historical Marker: The Neck

During the Eisenhower Administration in Washington, Congress passed the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955. The new law allowed for the creation of privately-funded organizations and institutions that would operate Presidential museums with federal support. Prior to this law, President Roosevelt's library was established between 1940 and 1941. The 1955 law has supported the creation of fourteen libraries as of 2016. Truman began planning for his Library and Museum almost immediately after being sworn in as President, well before the Federal Archives set up its system. The effort to fund and build the library was led by the Harry S. Truman Library Incorporated and supported by donations from more than 17,000 individuals and organizations. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library &amp; Museum took place on May 8, 1955, Truman’s 71st birthday. It opened to the public on July 6, 1957. Truman dedicated much of his time and energy to the library and museum until his death in 1972. He maintained an office (now preserved as an exhibit) where he spent time writing his memoir, answering letters, giving tours, and speaking to many students who visited the library. After his death, he was buried within the library in the courtyard. His wife, daughter, and son-in-law were later buried there as well.The 70,000 square foot library was originally designed by the Gentry and Voscamp, Architects, firm at a cost of $1.75 million. Since then, the building has undergone a series of expansions and renovations over the years. In 1967, the Library and Museum had an addition added to the southern wing that was used for office space, storage, and exhibit preparation. Again, in 1979, an east wing was added, expanding the libraries total square footage to 100,000 square feet.  Recently the Library and Museum has begun an ambitious multi-million dollar renovation to completely redesign the entire property. The plans, which include creating a walking trail leading to Truman’s boyhood home, are expected to be completed in 2020.The Truman Library is situated upon a 13.2-acre portion of the twenty-two-acre Slover Memorial Park. The structure is irregularly shaped and includes stack areas, staff offices, conference and seminar rooms, an auditorium, a research room, and storage areas. The research room, located near the north entrance, allows for the public to access the manuscripts, oral histories, and other materials relevant to the life of President Truman. Many of these items were transferred to the library during the dedication ceremony, including about 10,000 books, gifts, and mementos which Truman had received during his presidency. The Library's main collection is the papers associated with Truman's White House, but there are numerous other documents regarding other parts of his life.The Library is also the home to a museum examining different parts of Harry Truman's life. One of the permanent exhibits, the “Presidential Years,” provides information, artifacts, and videos regarding many of the decisions and events that took place during 1945-1953. In this exhibit, one can see a replica of Truman's Oval Office. The other permanent exhibit revolves around Truman's life. In this exhibit, “Truman: His Life and Times,” one can view areas dedicated to his childhood, military service, years in the Senate, and life after the Presidency. In addition to the two permanent exhibits, there is a location where the museum presents different temporary exhibits. In 2018, the Library &amp; Museum acquired the entire collection of the defunct Korean War Veterans National Museum &amp; Library in Springfield, Illinois. It plans to incorporate these artifacts in future exhibits.

Since its opening in 1957, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum has offered a research library and galleries that preserve and share the history of Harry Truman's life and presidency. This was also the first Presidential Library established following a 1955 law that supported the creation of these institutions. Truman personally worked to build the library and maintained a personal office which has been preserved and serves as one of the highlights of the tour. Today, the library helps bring the late President's life and legacy to light for modern scholars and everyday Americans through exhibits and a vast archival collection of documents from the Truman Administration.Listen to the clip below under Backstory and Context when you are on the Truman Walking Tour!

Harry S Truman in Independence Missouri Walking Tour

Ginkgo Tree

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources