HARRY’S HOMETOWN: A GREAT AMERICAN STORY

An Essay From Your Local National Park Ranger

“Well, it’s good to be back home, in what I call the center of the world…Independence, Missouri. And I am more than happy to be here, and to stay here the rest of my life…”

- Harry S Truman

You are holding in your hands a booklet designed entirely to help you plan a trip to Independence, Missouri. Few things would have made President and Mrs. Truman happier than knowing you are doing so. For the Trumans and their family, Independence was more than just a spot on a map. It was home, in the truest sense of the word. The town provided decades of memories, and support when they needed it the most. The town was proud to be home to a President of the United States and his family, and that feeling was more than mutual.

President Truman would be proud to know that in 2022, Independence came back to life after a period of uncertainty during the pandemic, and it came back in a big way. Visitors from around the world have come to learn about the Man from Independence, and found while here that there are almost endless opportunities to explore. (There’s a reason Harry Truman said that Kansas City was a suburb of Independence.)

During a recent visit to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, an elderly Veteran of the United States Army stood from his wheelchair in the courtyard and saluted at his Commander in Chief’s grave. We can only imagine the memories that gentleman carries with him, being part of that Greatest Generation.

During a recent visit to the Truman Home, a local six-year-old boy was excited to see and experience where Truman and his family lived, and shared with a Park Ranger what he would do if he became President of the United States. He and his grandparents subsequently enjoyed ice cream bought on the Square, and were excited to learn this was drugstore. At the end of the day, he discussed what his future presidential library would be like…it will contain an ice cream parlor. Imagine the memories that young man will create in the future.

During a recent stroll in the Harry S Truman Historic District, a couple from New York shared that they could easily imagine this town through the eyes of a young Harry Truman and Bess Wallace, saying that they truly understood the appeal of a small town, even as they chuckled because they couldn’t keep up with Harry Truman’s 120-stepsper-minute walking cadence. They left Independence with good memories.

If you haven’t done so recently, please take a few minutes and pay close attention to the news and current events. Check out the new releases in your favorite bookstore. Odds are you will often see and hear Harry Truman’s name mentioned. He is as relevant to us today as he was then. In 2023, it will have been 78 years since Harry Truman became President of the United States.

But in the grand scheme of time, it is but a blink. We, today, can learn much from Harry and Bess Truman. Leadership? Certainly. Integrity? Absolutely. We can also learn life lessons about love, faith, optimism, the importance of family, appreciation of our past, and the power of community.

The last of these is quite important. When you visit Independence you will be able to visit worldclass museums, historic homes, libraries, and more. You can shop in some of the most unique stores and dine in excellent restaurants. But what makes all these experiences extraordinary is the people… extraordinary people, here to tell you extraordinary stories and part of an extraordinary community.

For, you see, we also believe that Independence is the center of the world.

Learning