Today we stayed in Independence for the full day. No traveling in the motorhome.
We arrived at the Harry S Truman Presidential Library and Museum around 9:30 a.m. Once our tickets were purchased, we listened to a short overview of the Library and grounds by a volunteer. Then, we were off to explore the life and presidency of Harry S Truman. The display begins in the early years of his life and reflects events and thoughts of Harry Truman from boyhood till the end of his life. For sure, a lot of correspondence from Truman is on display.
One of the first things learned is that he had no middle name, just an initial. His parents both had ancestors whose names began with “S” but they could agree on a name. Harry sometimes used a period after the initial to make it appear that he had a middle name.
This poster is near the entry point into the museum.
Truman became president because Franklin Delano Roosevelt died from a brain hemorrhage shortly after his fourth inauguration. Harry inherited the ending of World War II only to turn around to find himself in the midst of another war (The Korean War).
By all accounts, Truman was a very humble man who served his community and his country not because that was his ambition, but because he found himself in situations where he was called upon to serve. He enjoyed his Senate term more than he enjoyed his terms as President of the United States. He nor his wife and daughter enjoyed their time in the White House, often referring to it as “The White Jail.” Bess (Truman’s wife) and Margaret (Truman’s daughter) only spent time in Washington from January to late spring, spending the rest of their year back in Independence. Truman found those months they were gone to be very lonely, so he poured himself into his work.
A simple prayer to live by.
World War II, the economic challenge of the post-war US, the Korean conflict, and the Berlin Airlift were all issues with which President Truman dealt. One can understand his statements of “The buck stops here” and "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
Truman sought to never forget from where he had come. When his time in office ended, he and Bess were delighted to return to Independence to spend their remaining years. At the time he left office, there was no retirement pension for former presidents and certainly no Secret Service detail to protect him. That process began in 1966. So, he was free to come and go around town as he drove to and from the office. Once his Library was completed (September 1957), he worked from an office there until 1966. Truman passed away in 1972.
Harry and Bess are buried at the Library and Museum
along with their daughter and son-in-law.
By the way, Truman was much involved in the development and construction of the Library and Museum. They are in separate buildings on the grounds that are managed by The National Archives. After a visit through any presidential library and museum, one comes to appreciate the work of that arm of the federal government and see the value in caring for documents and artifacts to be studied by future generations.
After our sojourn in the Museum (with a brief trek through the Library), we went for lunch at A Little BBQ Joint. Wow, we didn’t know what to expect but we certainly found out. For an appetizer (just because it was on the menu) we had BBQ wantons (BBQ beef wrapped in wontons and deep fried). That and their three varieties of sauce made for a special lunch.
Sweet Sister, Mad House Wife, and Mean Mother in Law are the featured sauces.
After lunch, we went back to the lifelong home of Bess and Harry. Built by her father, Harry moved in with Bess after they were married. Her brothers built smaller houses on the property when they were married. The home was given to the National Park Service after Bess’ death in 1982. All that has been changed is the addition of a carpet path through the home for visitors to use. There is no public access to the second floor.
A black, iron fence surrounds the Truman house that was
installed by the Secret Service after Truman became president.
Tours are done in groups up to eight in size.
Our afternoon ended with a tour through the Chicago and Alton railroad depot. It has the honor of being the only restored, two-story station in Missouri. It was filled with railroad memorabilia and still sits near the tracks though now on a spur line. The Chicago and Alton went from Chicago, through Alton, IL and on to Kansas City. The second floor was the 24/7 home of the station master/telegrapher.
The C&A Depot has been fully restored inside and outside.
It houses a lot of railroad memorabilia and artifacts.
Jim Bridger, an explorer for whom Wyoming’s
Bridger-Teton National Forest is named.
Next to the depot is the National Frontier Trails Museum. It was closed and is being moved to a larger facility. Standing beside the current location is the statue of Jim Bridger. Bridger, born n Richmond, Virginia. Heads West along the routes Lewis and Clark twenty years after their pioneering journey. He became a famous mountain man of the 19th century. Though lacking formal education, Bridger was able ti quickly master Indigenous dialects and cultures and had the ability of remembering geographical detail. Bridger outlived three wives, two of whom were Indigenous to the regions he explored.
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