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Independence is a historic city of about 120,000 people just east of Kansas City, and it is best known as the hometown of President Harry S. Truman. Long before that, it was the busy jumping-off point for the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails, where thousands of pioneers bought wagons and supplies before heading west in the 1800s.
The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum tells the story of his presidency, and Harry and Bess are buried in its courtyard. The Truman Home, part of the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site, is preserved just as they left it, and Truman's favorite walking routes wind past historic houses around the Independence Square.
Pioneer history is everywhere. The National Frontier Trails Museum explores life on the great western trails, Santa Fe Trail Park preserves wagon ruts, and Hiram Young Park honors a formerly enslaved man who became one of the trail's most successful wagon makers. The Vaile Mansion and the Bingham-Waggoner Estate show off the city's Victorian wealth, and the spiral spire of the Community of Christ Temple rises over the skyline.
The presidential library of Harry S. Truman, with exhibits on his life and presidency, the decision to use the atomic bomb, the Marshall Plan and a replica of his Oval Office. Truman and his wife Bess are buried in the courtyard. Allow two to three hours for a full visit.
A museum at the starting point of the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails, with wagons, diaries, maps and exhibits on the pioneers who outfitted in Independence before heading west. Nearby you can see real wagon ruts. It is compact, and a visit takes about an hour.
An unusual small museum displaying hundreds of wreaths and thousands of pieces of jewelry made from human hair, a craft popular in the Victorian era. The founder often explains the techniques herself. Opening days are limited, so call ahead. Photography rules vary, so ask first.
The National Park Service preserves the white Victorian home on North Delaware Street where Harry and Bess Truman lived from their marriage until their deaths, with original furnishings. Tours are by timed ticket from the visitor center on Main Street; go early as they are limited.
A restored 1859 brick jail and attached marshal's home off the square, where Confederate guerrilla Frank James was once held. Visitors can see the cramped limestone cells and period rooms of the marshal's family. Run by the Jackson County Historical Society, it closes in winter.
A grand 1881 Second Empire mansion built by businessman Harvey Vaile, with 31 rooms, painted ceilings, marble fireplaces and period furnishings. Guided tours explain its later years as an asylum and nursing home. It is open seasonally, so check the schedule before visiting.
A historic home on the Santa Fe Trail where painter George Caleb Bingham lived and later owned by the Waggoner milling family, with original furnishings and a 20-acre estate. Guided tours run seasonally. Look for the old trail swale on the grounds during your visit.
The historic town square around the Truman Courthouse, where young Harry Truman worked as a judge, is lined with antique shops, cafes, restaurants and a Truman statue. It is the center of many festivals, including SantaCaligon Days on Labor Day weekend. Street parking is free.
The world headquarters temple of the Community of Christ church, designed by Gyo Obata, with a striking spiral steel spire rising about 300 feet and a calm sanctuary inside. Visitors are welcome for free tours and daily prayer for peace services. It is a short walk from the square.
A large domed auditorium completed in the 1950s next to the temple, with a 5,800-seat conference chamber and a famous Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ. Free organ recitals are often held in summer. It also hosts concerts and conferences; check the schedule for public events.
A visitors center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near the temple lot, with exhibits, paintings and a film about early Latter-day Saint history in Missouri in the 1830s. Admission and guided tours are free, and staff are welcoming without pressure.
A wooded city nature park in Independence with two small fishing lakes, hiking trails, a nature center with live animal displays and picnic areas. It is good for a quiet walk or birdwatching. Fishing requires a state license, and the nature center has limited hours.
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