National Park Service Harry S Truman U.S. Department of the Interior National Historic Site Missouri Missouri. Independence, in where Istarted back Ifoundright myself Senate, years the ten in and House White nearly years eight the in After back to.where going . Iwas whereand I’d from and come forget to Iwas never who I tried Kempton, 1947. Portrait byGreta 33rd President. Harry STruman, WHITE HOUSEHISTORICALASSOC. A MostUncommonCommonMan friendship. friendship. shyness andstrike upatrue years forHarry to overcomehis did notappealto Bess.Ittook frail-looking boywiththickglasses an accomplishedathlete.Butthe golden hair,” a populargirland young ladywiththeblueeyes and Harry adoredBess,the“beautiful inent family. Allhisschoolyears Bess Wallace, daughterof aprom- That yearHarrymetfive-year-old ily movedtherewhenhewassix. dence ashishometown.Thefam- Missouri butclaimedIndepen- Harry STruman was born inrural ValuesMidwestern common role? man abruptlythrustintothisun quences. Whowasthiscommon sions thatheldworldwideconse- of theUnitedStates,facingdeci- At 60hewassuddenlyPresident eventually becomingaUSsenator. something heenteredpolitics, rupt. Determinedtosucceedat his clothingbusinesswasbank deemed himselfafailure.By38 start workingfulltime.At33he college. Instead,at17hehadto a concertpianistandofgoingto As achildhedreamedofbeing work for someone used to city life. farmed before, and itwasarduous heeded thecall. Hehadnever the farminGrandview. Truman father summonedhimtohelp on changed againwhenTruman’s the NationalGuard.At22hislife He wenttoconcertsandjoined job asabankclerkinKansasCity. Truman eventuallyfoundagood family savingsinriskyinvestments. his dreamsofcollegebylosingthe Truman. In1901his father dashed ter timesdidnotincludeyoung times inthenewcentury. Butbet- nations andthepromisesofbetter loved theexcitementofnomi- Convention inKansasCity. Truman him totheDemocraticNational of politicswhenhisfathertook In 1900Truman gothis firsttaste perseverance. values—honesty, courage,and hard workandofMidwestern John, taughthimtheworthof Public Library.” Truman’s father, the booksinIndependence school andby14had“readall He practicedthepianobefore a loveofmusicandbooks. Martha, instilledinHarry Truman’s mother, (below). uniform about1905 Missouri NationalGuard (background); Truman in dence Squareearly1900s 1903 Harry Truman age19, (left oval);Indepen-
HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY Harry from Army days, backed Harry from Armydays, backed Pendergast, whose nephewknew into alifelongcareer. “Boss”Tom Truman’s next job,politics,turned was lookingforwork. closed theshop.By1922Truman business thriveduntiladepression clothing storeinKansasCity, and June 28,1919.Truman openeda Wallace agreedtomarry himon persistence paidoff toowhen Bess Finally Truman feltsuccessful. His tion, andhelostnomaninbattle. tion. Hebrookednoinsubordina- with hiscourageanddetermina- Harry inspiredhistroopsinFrance officer intheUSArmy. Captain in themidstofWorld War Iasan By 1917,33-year-old Truman was turned himdown. in 1911,proposedmarriage.She Bess lettersfromGrand their courtshipbegan.Hewrote Bess greetedhimatthedoor, and a neighbor, Mrs.MadgeWallace. teered toreturnacakeplate in Independence,Truman volun- aunt anduncle,theNolands paths again.Whilevisitinghis In 1910HarryandBesscrossed Determination andPatience 1931 (right). judge ofJacksonCounty, man sworninaspresiding farm, 1910(above);Tru- vator ontheGrandview Harry Truman ridesaculti- view and, view and,
once more. being withhisfamily andfriends Truman enjoyedhiswalksand my lifeinMissouri.” Backhome ton Iwant,”hewrote.“Iprefer term. “IhavehadallofWashing- years. Truman didnotseekathird even morethanduringhissenate Truman awayfromIndependence the KoreanWar inparticular, kept nist expansion.Aseriesofcrises, torn EuropeandhaltingCommu- He thenturnedtorebuildingwar- on thedrivetoendWorld War II. mental decisions.Firsthecarried The newpresidentfacedmonu- The BuckStopsHere became the33rdUSpresident. and, at7:09pm,HarrySTruman dent. RooseveltdiedonApril12 Franklin D.Roosevelt’s vicepresi- In January1945Truman became all remainedMissouriansatheart. to Washington, DC,in1935but seat. TheTruman familymoved enough towinhimaUSSenate and hardworkimpressedvoters job. Hisreputationforintegrity paigned hard,won,andlovedthe of JacksonCounty. Truman cam- judge (administrativeposition) Truman’s runforeasterndistrict
HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY
(below). Bess Wallace age12 1940 (aboveleft); tion pin,April15, Democratic Conven- and hisMissouri judge (aboveright) badge aspresiding Truman’s official HARRY S.TRUMANLIBRARY NPS
HARRY S. TRUMAN LIBRARY 600-acre farm. and Truman family on Young Grandmother to Grandviewhelp 1906 at 219N.DelawareAve. into grandparents’house move withtheirmother 1904 family. City areatohelpsupport series ofjobsinKansas tion; Truman begins grain-futures specula- father losessavingsin dence HighSchool;his graduate fromIndepen- 1901 Sunday school. six, meetsBess,five,at Independence; Harry, 1890 Elizabeth Virginia. dence, MO;christened February 13inIndepen- man’s futurewife,born 1885 Shipp Truman. Young andAnderson grandfathers Solomon initial onlytohonorhis Harry S;givenamiddle Martha Truman; named Lamar, MO,toJohnand 1884 Harry STruman: 1884–1972 Truman moves Bess andbrothers Harry andBess Family movesto Bess Wallace, Tru- Born May 8 in Born May8in
Reserve. active inFieldArtillery two four-year terms;is County Court,serves ing judgeofJackson 1926–34 as easterndistrictjudge. Truman losesreelection ret bornFebruary17; 1924 Court. judge ofJacksonCounty elected easterndistrict 1922 Eddie Jacobson. store withArmyfriend opens men’s clothing in withherfamily; marry June28;hemoves 1919 France. 35th Div.; servesin 129th FieldArtillery, captain ofBatteryD and fightsinWWI;is 1917–18 and landventures. cessfully, inmining,oil, Truman dabbles,unsuc- 1914–16 nine-year courtship. (in Independence)begin view) andBessWallace 1910 Daughter Marga- Business fails;is Harry andBess Truman (inGrand- Elected presid- Joins USArmy; Father dies;
Harry S. Truman Library term as president; moves term aspresident; moves lin; iselectedtosecond Union’s blockadeofBer lift againsttheSoviet armed forces;ordersair 1948 lishes CIA;motherdies. Security Actthatestab- Doctrine; signsNational 1947 on August14. bombs; Japansurrenders thorizes useofatomic Winston Churchill;au- with JosephStalinand Germany, conference May 8;attendsPotsdam, end ofwarinEuropeon FDR’s death;announces president April12upon 1945 term. to fourthpresidential Roosevelt (FDR)elected dent ofUS;FranklinD. 1944 second term,USsenator. road reform);electedto Transportation Act(rail- passes Wheeler-Truman view farm;Congress foreclosure ofGrand- 1938–41 Mortgage Senate. 1934 Desegregates the Desegregates the Issues Truman Becomes 33rd Elected vicepresi- Elected toUS
- - for futuregenerations. legacy anditsinspiration to preservetheTruman man NationalHistoricSite designates HarrySTru- December 8,Congress is buriednexttoHarry. October 18atage97; 1982 Harry S.Truman Library. at age88;isburied 1972 S. Truman Library. dence; dedicatesHarry ends; retirestoIndepen- 1953–57 foreign policies. for criticizingTruman’s Gen. DouglasMacArthur Far Eastcommander Korean War grows;fires drop asUSeffort in 1951 aids NorthKorea. emergency whenChina nists; proclaimsstateof North KoreanCommu- in fightagainstinvading join SouthKoreantroops 1950 (lives thereuntil1952). House renovationsbegin to BlairHouseasWhite Bess Truman dies Dies December26 Popularity ratings Popularity ratings Orders USforcesto Korean War
Harry S. Truman Library new StateofIsrael. leader torecognizethe Truman wasthefirstworld right). OnMay, 14,1948, State ofIsrael(below rah, official emblemofthe (below left)andameno- Nations, adoptedin1947, The symboloftheUnited 1945, (left). Berlin, Germany, July21, dent Truman atceremony, George Patton,andPresi- Gen. Eisenhower, D. (second left);Gen.Dwight 219 N.Delaware,1934, and Bessinbackyardof Daughter Margaret,Harry,
NPS Grandview, Mo. Directions to the Truman Visitor Center (tickets and June 22, 1911 information) • From I-435, Dear Bessie: take Truman Rd. exit 60; go east 3½ miles to the visitor Would you wear a solitaire on center at Truman Rd. and Main St. • From I-70, take your left hand should I get it? Noland Rd. exit 12; go north four miles; turn west onto . . . You know, were I an Italian Truman Rd.; go two blocks or a poet I would commence to the visitor center. and use all the luscious lan- Seeing Independence Stroll- ing around Independence guage of two continents. I am is like stepping back in time. not either but only . . . [an] Its small downtown area and S. T r u man L ibrary H arry © Jan e t Bonsall NPS ; D E SK –© Jan e t Bonsall Farm– nps / Brian Hoduski historic neighborhood are
American farmer . . . . I’ve been Today the Truman Farm Home and 11 NPS Harry and Bess Truman lived in this This cozy study, filled with over 1,000 Directions to Grandview Truman largely unchanged from the In 1940 creditors forced acres are all that remain of the family Victorian home for over 50 years books, was a favorite room for Harry Farm • From I-435, take US 71 exit; time when Truman walked the sale of the farm. A farm. Harry wrote letters to Bess on a sheriff ordered Truman’s crazy about you ever since we (above). The home across the street and Bess. He enjoyed biographies, go south 2.2 miles; turn right (west) these streets over 40 years desk like this one in the farm’s dining is where Harry’s favorite cousins, histories, and political studies. She mother and sister to ago. Be sure to see Inde went to Sunday school together. room. Nellie and Ethel Noland, lived (left). loved mysteries. onto Blue Ridge Blvd.; farm is 0.6 leave. Truman lamented mile on left. • From US 71, proceed pendence Square, Jackson to Bess that his mother But I never had the nerve to as above. • From I-70, take exit 8A County Courthouse, the Tru- “has been calling that man statue, and Clinton’s farm home since 1868. onto I-435; exit onto US 71 (left She helped her father think you’d even look at me. lane exit); proceed as above. Drugstore. Neighborhood set out those maple highlights include the Noland, trees in the fall of that More than sincerely, Truman, and Wallace homes year. . . .” Harry The Truman Farm—Then and Now The Close-Knit Families of Harry and Bess Visiting the Truman Home and Historic Independence on Delaware Ave. and Truman Truman returned to Grandview Visiting the Farm Today Harry had help in winning Bess’ Viewing the Family Homes Today Truman Visitor Center (tickets- mation go to a visitor center, ask • For firearms and other regula- Rd. At the park visitor center in 1906 to help on the 600-acre Harry S Truman National Historic heart. By coincidence his relatives, The Truman home at 219 N. Dela- information) Begin your visit at a ranger, call, or check our web- tions ask a ranger or check the get the free, self-guiding family farm. The house had no Site includes the old Grandview the Nolands, lived across the ware Ave. is open by guided tour the park visitor center at 223 N. site. park website. • All historic and Harry S Truman Walking Trail electricity or indoor plumbing. farm house and 11 acres of the street from the Wallaces. During only. The Noland home at 216 N. Main Street. It has ticket sales for natural features are protected brochure that tells you about Backbreaking labor began at original 600-acre farm where a visit in 1910, Harry happily vol- Delaware and the Wallace homes the Truman home tour, informa- Tips for a Great Guided Home by federal law. over 40 sites in the historic 5 am and lasted 12 to 14 hours. Harry Truman lived from age unteered to return a cake plate to at 601 and 605 W. Truman Road tion, a film, exhibits, and a book- Tour Get your Truman home tick- district. “There is always something the 22–33 (1906–1917). These years 219 N. Delaware, where Bess had are not open to the public. Please store. ets early! Tickets are sold the day More Information matter with a crop,” he wrote to represent a lesser-known period lived since 1904. This encounter enjoy viewing them from the side- of the tour, first-come, first- Harry S Truman It is a short drive to the Bess in 1913. “It’s either too dry of Truman’s life. Here he grew changed their lives forever. walk. Guided Tours of Truman’s Home served (no advance reservations). National Historic Site Truman Presidential Museum or too wet or too short or too from a young man of modest am- The Truman home is at 219 N. • Tours begin promptly at the 223 North Main Street and Library, where Harry and long or too much or not enough. bitions into the person that would Harry began regular visits from 216 N. Delaware Avenue The Delaware Avenue; guided tours front gate of the Truman home Independence, MO 64050 Bess Truman are buried. If is the largest word in a farmer’s become the President of the US. A Grandview, and to save a round- Nolands, Truman’s aunt, uncle, only. Buy tickets at the visitor at the time stamped on your tick- 816-254-9929 US 24 and Delaware Ave. language.” Truman’s father died visit here can provide a more com- trip, he often slept in the Noland and cousins, lived here. For nine center (five blocks east). Each et. Allow 10 minutes to walk www.nps.gov/hstr Independence, MO 64050 in 1914, and the full responsibility plete picture of this man who held parlor. In 1919 Truman married years it was a vital link for Harry tour is limited to eight people; from the visitor center to the Tru- 816-268-8200 S. T r u man L ibrary H arry for running the farm fell upon the nation’s highest office. Bess and moved into the Wallace between the Grandview farm and there may be a waiting period. man home. • Be extra careful on Harry S Truman Historic Site is www.trumanlibrary.org Young Bess Wallace 30-year-old Harry. Truman accept- home. Bess’ mother Madge lived Independence as he courted Bess. There is an introductory film stairs. • Smoking, drinking, eat one of over 400 parks in the poses on the railing ed the challenge, and it taught Touring the Farm The grounds are in the home, and her brothers shown at the visitor center. View ing, pets, chewing gum, and pho- National Park System. To learn Tourist information: of her home at 219 N. him what became his best-known open year-round, dawn to dusk. Frank and George had cottages 601 and 605 W. Truman Road exhibits and browse the book- tography are not allowed on the more about national parksand Independence Tourism Dept. Delaware. Years later, quality—common sense. “It was Explore on your own. Cell phone behind the main house. The fami- Bess’ brothers and their wives store before your tour begins. grounds or in the home. • Rest- National Park Service programs 111 E. Maple Ave. on the eve of their 23rd wedding anniversary in on the farm that Harry got his tour and brochures available. lies enjoyed being together. The lived in these homes. Frank and rooms are located in the visitor in America’s communities, visit Independence, MO 64050 1942, Truman wrote common sense,” his mother Mar- Buildings are closed. No restroom Trumans never allowed fame to Natalie lived in the brown one; Accessibility We strive to make center only! • Please stay on the www.nps.gov. 816-325-7111, 800-748-7323 that his sweetheart is tha once said. “He didn’t get it in facilities. Located at 12301 Blue come between them and their George and May in the green. our facilities, services, and pro- dark gray carpet, and do not www.ci.independence.mo.us “as good looking and lovable as when she town.” Ridge Blvd., Grandview, MO. dearest friends—their family. NPS grams accessible to all. For infor- touch walls, furniture, or objects. © BRADLEY SMITH was sixteen.” ✩GPO:20xx—xxx-xxx/xxxxx Reprint 20xx Printed on recycled paper.