Fifth District Historic Sites

Harry S Truman Sites

Independence, Missouri

Harry S. Truman is recognized by historians, authors, world leaders and citizens across the country as one of the greatest American presidents ever. During your Independence visit in Missouri's Fifth District, you can learn about the life behind this incredible man. A failed farmer and haberdasher, a memorable military career and a hometown boy with middle-America ideas and ethics, Harry Truman was Independence. And Independence IS Harry Truman. Walk through his neighborhood, stop into the soda fountain on historic Independence Square where he had his first job, and see the sites where this international leader met his wife, went to school, had an occasional glass of whiskey and played penny-stakes poker. Don't miss the Truman Presidential Museum & Library, Truman Home and the little known but very surprising Truman Courtroom and Office. It's all in historic Independence, MO.

Truman Presidential Museum & Library

Experience the eventful and triumphant life of America's 33rd President. Permanent museum attractions include Harry S. Truman: The Presidential Years, an exhibit featuring two decision theaters, audio and video programs and artifacts to engage visitors in the issues and events surrounding the Truman Presidency. Harry S. Truman: His Life and Times, focuses on his pre and post presidency and includes 10 audio visual stations and a children's area. The museum also offers a replica of the Oval Office, an Academy Award winning film by Charles Guggenheim and a gift shop.

500 W. Highway 24, 816-268-8200

Hours: 9 a.m.-5 a.m. Mon.-Sat.; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs.; Noon-5 p.m. Sun., closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
Cost: $7 adults, $5 seniors, $3 ages 6-18, under 6 free
www.trumanlibrary.org

The Truman Home

The Truman Home, located at 219 N. Delaware, offers a glimpse at the personal life of the 33rd President of the US. Beautiful in its uncluttered commonness, the Truman Home showcases the simple life Truman and his beloved Bess enjoyed in Independence before and after his presidency. Tours run every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets must be purchased at the Truman Home Ticket Center on the day of the tour. No advance reservations. Groups are limited to 8 people. Visitors also enjoy a visit to the Truman Home Ticket Center with free audio visual show depicting the President's life and the interior of his stately home. www.nps.gov/hstr

Open: Memorial Day-Labor Day, 7 days/week, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Labor Day-Memorial Day, closed Mondays
Tour of home: 9 a.m.-5 a.m. (8 people every 15 minutes)
$4 adults 17 and older

Truman Home Ticket Center

A visit to the Truman Home Ticket Center is a great way to learn more about the personal life of Independence's favorite son. A free 12 minute audio-visual show, rotating exhibits and bookstore make this a popular stop for visitors.

Main & Truman Road (223 North Main)

Truman Courthouse & Office

The Independence Square Courthouse, which houses the restored office and courtroom Truman occupied as county judge in 1933, stands at the center of Historic Independence Square. A 35-minute audio-visual show in the courtroom highlights Truman's rise to power.

Independence Square
(816) 252-7454
Open: 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tues-Fri
Open by advance reservation for groups.
Admission: $2 adults; $1 students, under 5 free.

Carrie Nation Sites
Belton, Missouri

When Carry started swinging her hatchet across Kansas, the anti-saloon movement was a mere weakling. She transformed it into a militant giant that eventually put the 18th Amendment into the Constitution. Born in Kentucky in November 1846, she and her family moved to a farm east of Peculiar, MO. in 1855. The family moved to Texas during the Civil War. On their way back after the war they crossed the Pea Ridge battlefield in Arkansas shortly after that battle. All the bedding and pillows they could spare were given to the wounded.

In 1867 Carry married Dr. Charles Gloyd, who became an incurable drunkard and died within a couple of years. She married David Nation in 1877. He was a lawyer, editor and self-styled minister of the Christian Church. That marriage ended in divorce in 1901.

The "cyclone in petticoats" launched her campaign against tobacco and liquor from Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Kansas voters in 1880 outlawed saloons. Since they were illegal, Carry thought she could destroy the property and not be sued for damages. Her 10 year crusade was filled with fury and personal sacrifice. She was jailed at least 33 times, egged, stoned, beaten and on at least one occasion hit over the head with a chair. Carry Nation died on June 9, 1911 in Leavenworth, Kansas. She was brought to Belton for burial in the family plot next to her parents. In 1991 the Belton Historical Society purchased an antique hearse reported to be the one which brought Carry to Belton. It is on display in a carriage house located next to the Old City Hall, 512 Main St.

American Jazz Museum
18th and Vine
Kansas City , Mo.

The sights and sounds of a uniquely American art form come aliveCharlie Parker at the American Jazz Museum. The Museum includes interactive exhibits and educational programs as well as the Blue Room, a working jazz club, and the Gem Theater, a modern 500-seat performing arts center.

Located in the historic 18th and Vine District in Kansas City, Mo., this is the place where jazz masters such as Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Big Joe Turner, and hundreds of others defined the sounds of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.

Today, scholars, students, musicians, and fans are drawn here to learn about the legends, honor their legacy, or simply enjoy the best music America has to offer. For more information, call us at 816-474-8463.

Additional Museum Highlights

Celebrating the artistic, historical, and cultural contributions of jazz, the American Jazz Museum includes:

* Rare photos, album covers, memorabilia, and personal items telling the stories of jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Charlie Parker
* More than 100 recordings of the greatest jazz ever played
* Studio 18th & Vine, where visitors experiment with harmony, melody, and rhythm
* Films and special collections honoring the impact of jazz on the American experience
* Special exhibits highlighting Kansas City’s unique contributions to jazz

"Where It Lives"

The American Jazz Museum provides several programs and venues for people to enjoy live jazz music, including:

* The Blue Room: Named after the famed 18th & Vine nightspot in the old Street Hotel, this working jazz club is open four nights a week and features the best local and national artists in an intimate, creative, smoke-free setting.
* The Gem Theater: Behind the restored 1912 façade is a modern 500-seat performing arts center. In addition to our annual "Jammin' at the Gem" jazz masters' concert series, the theater hosts many community events and theatre productions.

The Changing Gallery: Four times a year, the American Jazz Museum presents special artistic exhibits inspired by jazz, baseball, and African-American life.