Last updated: October 12, 2022
Place
Truman Farm Home
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Location:
12301 Blue Ridge Ext, Grandview, Missouri
Significance:
Farm home of the 33rd President of the United States
Designation:
National Historic Site
Amenities
3 listed
Cellular Signal, Parking - Auto, Toilet - Vault/Composting
The Young Farm, now called the Truman Farm, was the farm of Harry Truman’s maternal grandparents, Solomon and Harriet Louisa Young. The Young’s laid claim to the initial 80 acres of land in 1844. The land was ideal for grazing and growing crops like wheat and corn. As the Young family grew so did their land, at one time the Youngs had around 2,000 acres.
The original farm home was built in 1867 close to the current farm home location. Martha Ellen Young Truman, Harry Truman's mother, grew up on this farm and helped her father plant the grove of maple trees in front of the farm home.
The Truman family moved to the family farm when Harry Truman was four years old. John A Truman, Harry’s father, became a partner on the farm. Harry Truman discovered his love of reading while living on the family farm. When he was 4 years old his mother taught him to read using the family bible. He learned to ride his horse, a Black Shetland pony, that he would ride to accompany his father on his rounds. He explored the pastures accompanied by his cat Bob and dog Tandy. The farm provided Harry Truman with wonderful days and great adventures. In 1890, the Truman family would leave the farm and move to Independence so the children could receive proper schooling.
In October 1894, the original farm home burned down and the Young's constructed the existing farm home in sections from 1894-1895. First, they built the middle section, then added on the front and back sections, completing the home we see today.
The Trumans moved back to the farm in 1905 to help Grandma Young farm the land. A year later, Harry Truman left his banking job in Kansas City to help his family on the farm. He left behind the modern conveniences of city life like running water, plumbing, and electricity. He had never farmed a day in his life. The years Harry Truman spent farming were during the golden age of American agriculture.
The Trumans raised horses, mules, chickens, Shorth horn cattle, and Hampshire hogs. The garden was just behind the home where they grew asparagus, apples, peaches, grapes, blackberries, strawberries, and a small kitchen garden. In the field behind the home was the Solomon Young barn, a granary, hay barn, a small barn, a hog shed, outhouse, icehouse/coalhouse, and smokehouse. None of these structures remain.
The original farm home was built in 1867 close to the current farm home location. Martha Ellen Young Truman, Harry Truman's mother, grew up on this farm and helped her father plant the grove of maple trees in front of the farm home.
The Truman family moved to the family farm when Harry Truman was four years old. John A Truman, Harry’s father, became a partner on the farm. Harry Truman discovered his love of reading while living on the family farm. When he was 4 years old his mother taught him to read using the family bible. He learned to ride his horse, a Black Shetland pony, that he would ride to accompany his father on his rounds. He explored the pastures accompanied by his cat Bob and dog Tandy. The farm provided Harry Truman with wonderful days and great adventures. In 1890, the Truman family would leave the farm and move to Independence so the children could receive proper schooling.
In October 1894, the original farm home burned down and the Young's constructed the existing farm home in sections from 1894-1895. First, they built the middle section, then added on the front and back sections, completing the home we see today.
The Trumans moved back to the farm in 1905 to help Grandma Young farm the land. A year later, Harry Truman left his banking job in Kansas City to help his family on the farm. He left behind the modern conveniences of city life like running water, plumbing, and electricity. He had never farmed a day in his life. The years Harry Truman spent farming were during the golden age of American agriculture.
The Trumans raised horses, mules, chickens, Shorth horn cattle, and Hampshire hogs. The garden was just behind the home where they grew asparagus, apples, peaches, grapes, blackberries, strawberries, and a small kitchen garden. In the field behind the home was the Solomon Young barn, a granary, hay barn, a small barn, a hog shed, outhouse, icehouse/coalhouse, and smokehouse. None of these structures remain.