Harry S. Truman National Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Harry S Truman National Historic Site
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| Location | 219 N. Delaware St., Independence, Missouri |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built by | George Porterfield Gates (1867 house) James W. Adams (1885 modification) |
| Architect | James W. Adams (1885 modification) |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Ecletic Victorian |
| Visitation | 31,316 (2012) |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001248 |
| Added to NRHP | May 31, 1985 |
The Harry S. Truman National Historic Site protects the homes and other places connected to Harry S. Truman. He was the 33rd president of the United States. These special places are found in the Kansas City, Missouri area.
The National Park Service takes care of the site. Its most important parts are the Truman Home in Independence and the Truman Farm Home in Grandview. The site also includes homes of Truman's cousins and Bess Truman's brothers. This historic site was officially recognized on May 23, 1983.
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Discovering Harry S. Truman's Homes
The Truman Home in Independence
The Truman Home is located at 219 North Delaware Street in Independence, Missouri. This house was Harry S. Truman's home for a very long time. He lived here from his marriage to Bess Wallace on June 28, 1919, until he passed away on December 26, 1972. Bess Truman's grandfather, George Porterfield Gates, built the house between 1867 and 1885.
After a sad event involving Bess's father, David Willock Wallace, in 1903, Bess and her family moved into the house. They lived there with Bess's grandparents. When Harry and Bess got married in 1919, Harry was investing his money in a men's clothing store. Living at the Wallace home helped them save money.
After his clothing store didn't succeed in 1922, Harry and Bess continued to live in the house. This helped them save money while Harry paid off his business debts. When he was elected to the Senate in 1935, he moved to Washington, D.C. with his wife and daughter. However, whenever they returned to Missouri, the house at 219 N. Delaware was always their home.
After Truman retired from being president in 1953, the Truman Home became his personal office. This was before the Truman Library opened in 1957. Bess Truman lived in the home until she passed away in 1982. She left the property to the National Park Service. The home was closed for eight months in 2009-2010 for important updates. These updates made it safer and better for visitors.
Life at the Independence Home
The Truman Home gives you a peek into the personal life of the 33rd President. You can see the simple life the family enjoyed in Independence. This was true both before and after Harry's eight years as president. The Trumans' only child, Mary Margaret, was born here on February 17, 1924.
The site also includes two homes next door that belonged to Mrs. Truman's brothers. Across Delaware Street is the Noland Home. This is where the President's favorite aunt and cousins lived. The site has a visitor center in an old firehouse in downtown Independence. Park rangers lead tours of the home. They show it much as the Truman family left it.
The second floor of the home has never been open to the public. Bess Truman wanted to protect her family's privacy. She wrote in her will that the second floor should stay closed until her daughter Margaret passed away. Margaret passed away in 2008. However, the National Park Service keeps it closed to help preserve the home. You can find photos of these closed rooms, including Harry and Bess's bedroom.
What You Can See Inside
On the ground floor of the home, you can see a Steinway piano. Truman bought it as a Christmas gift for Margaret. He even played this piano in the White House. You can also see some of the Trumans' large personal library. This includes mystery books that Bess enjoyed. There is also the family's record collection.
The official White House portrait of the First Lady is also on display. The one in Washington D.C. is a copy. Other paintings include a wide view of Athens, Greece. There's also a painting of Key West with palm trees and a donkey. Another painting is called "Swan River." The fireplace has tiles showing a desert scene. It has tents and tall towers, possibly inspired by One Thousand and One Nights.
Truman was one of the few Presidents who didn't own his own home before becoming president. He lived with his parents until he married. Then he lived in the Wallace House. He also rented apartments and houses in Washington. He lived in Blair House and the White House too. It wasn't until July 1953, after his presidency, that Harry and Bess Truman bought the home. This was after Bess's mother passed away in December 1952.
The house is now part of the Harry S. Truman Historic District. This is a very important historical area.
The Truman Farm Home in Grandview
The Harry S. Truman Farm Home is about 15 miles (24 km) from Independence. It is located in Grandview, Missouri. This farmhouse is a National Historic Landmark. It was built in 1894 by Harry Truman's grandmother. It is the main part of a 5.25-acre piece of land. This land was once part of the family's much larger 600-acre farm.
Truman worked on this farm when he was a young man, from 1906 to 1917. His mother said that Harry learned his "common sense" here. There isn't a visitor center at the farm. However, the grounds are open all year for you to explore on your own. You can also listen to an audio tour. Guided tours used to happen in the summer. They were stopped in 2013 due to budget cuts.
The site has a two-story farmhouse. There is also a rebuilt smokehouse. You can see the old Grandview post office, which Truman moved to the farm. He used it as a garage for his 1911 Stafford car. A restored box wagon, once used on the farm, is also there. Several stone fence posts show the original farm boundaries. There are other original and rebuilt buildings too.
After Truman retired, he sold parts of the farm. This land was used for the Truman Corners Shopping Center. It was also used for other new developments in Kansas City.
See also
