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Contact: Douglas J Richardson
Independence, Missouri – On Saturday, September 28, 2019, Harry S Truman National Historic Site, in partnership with the Grandview (MO) Historical Society and the City of Grandview will offer a free special one day event at the Truman Farm Home, located at 12301 Blue Ridge Boulevard, in Grandview, Missouri, as part of commemorating the life of Harry S Truman, 33rd President of the United States, who spent many of his formative years on this farm from 1906-1917.From 10:00AM to 3:00PM, National Park Service staff and volunteers will be available to introduce visitors to the Truman Farm property, and help visitors understand why Truman’s years on the Grandview Farm were so crucial in the character development of Harry Truman. Special activities for children will be available at this event. Photography inside the Farm Home is not permitted, to help preserve the integrity of the artifacts. Please observe parking and safety signage upon nearing the entrance to the Truman Farm Home. For safety reasons, Harry Truman's bedroom inside the Farm Home will not be open and available during this event.
A twenty-two-year-old Harry Truman gave up his $100 a month bank salary to go work on the family farm in 1906. The farmhouse, with no plumbing or electricity, stood in stark contrast to the bright lights of Kansas City. On the farm, Harry had little privacy, sharing the seven-room house with his grandmother, parents, sister and brother. During Harry’s eleven years on the farm, he worked hard, planned for the future, and confronted each challenge with calm determination. While at the farm, Harry would spend much time corresponding with the great love of his life, the beautiful blonde, blue-eyed, Bess Wallace, who lived in Independence.
Harry S Truman National Historic Site Superintendent Carol Dage says, “It’s very difficult to understand Harry S Truman, the man, without understanding his years on the family farm, and how those years, and the hard work involved, helped shape him into the man who would be the leader of the free world at a crucial point in our history. We are pleased to offer this event, and grateful to our volunteers and partners for their friendship and support.”
www.nps.gov/hstr www.facebook.com/HarrySTrumanNHS/
Last updated: August 7, 2019