Located right in the heart of Independence, Missouri, is the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, which chronicles the life, times, and distinguished political career of the 33rd President of the United States of America. Dedicated in July of 1957, this is one of 14 Presidential Libraries in the United States and the first to be created under the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955. It was the second Presidential Library to receive a national designation.

  • Where is the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum located?

    • Built on a small hill facing US Highway 24, the library and museum showcase the colorful and accomplished years in the public service of President Truman, who was born several miles away from Independence, Missouri.

  • Who is buried at the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum?

    • The remains of President Truman, along with those of his wife Bess, his daughter, and son-in-law, are laid to rest in the courtyard of the museum.

  • How many objects are housed in the museum?

    • There are more than 32,000 objects housed in the museum, including thousands of papers, books, diplomatic gifts, and family possessions of the late president.

    • Visitors will also get to see more than 1,000 letters from President Truman addressed to his wife.

  • What offices of President Truman are on display?

    • Guests will get to take a closer look at President Truman’s two offices.

    • One is the same office he used from 1957 to 1966, and another is a mock-up of his Oval Office.

    • The former is just as historical as the latter, as the great Missourian worked there 5 to 6 days a week after finishing his two terms as president.

    • He wrote his book Mr. Citizen there and met with other US presidents, such as Hoover, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon.

  • How many books and manuscripts are in the library?

    • The library contains more than 10,000 books.

    • It also holds about 15 million pages of manuscript materials, with nearly half of them classified as White House files.

  • What other archival materials does the library have?

    • The library holds more than 128,000 pictures, 1,000 hours of video tape recordings, and 500 motion pictures.

  • What mural painting greets visitors at the museum?

    • Guests will be greeted by a mural painting titled Independence and the Opening of the West, created by Thomas Hart Benton.

  • Who uses the research facilities at the Truman Library?

    • Since 1959, more than 13,000 researchers have used the research facilities of the library.

    • These researchers include scholars, graduate students, journalists, filmmakers, writers, and people interested in the life and career of President Truman.

Address

Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, 500 W US Hwy 24,Independence, MO 64050, Phone: 816-268-8200

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