President Harry S Truman displayed a sign on his desk in the Oval Office which read: "The Buck Stops Here." Although Independence, Missouri is over a thousand miles from Washington, D.C., visitors can see this sign today in a faithful re-creation of his White House office at the Truman Presidential Museum & Library. Through September, the Truman Museum is featuring a special traveling exhibit called Lincoln: The Constitution & the Civil War. Your family will learn about the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and the difficult decisions he made that forever changed our nation.
When visiting Harry's beloved Independence to experience Truman heritage sites and other attractions, families discover they can get a lot of "bang" for their travel buck.
Conveniently located on the eastern border of KC, at the intersection of major north-south and east-west interstates, Independence offers a wide selection of attractively priced lodging options, with rates from $45 to $90 a night.
Family friendly attractions and activities include:
1827 Log Courthouse (107 W Kansas) Last courthouse between Independence and the Pacific Ocean for forty years.
Adventure Oasis (2100 Hub Dr) Water slides, a lazy river, lap pool, zero depth pool and more!
Bass Pro Outdoor World (18001 E Bass Pro Dr) Enjoy outdoor trails, playground, rock climbing wall, laser shooting gallery, lake, or wildlife displays and aquarium inside.
Chicago & Alton Depot (313 W Pacific) Built in 1879, the oldest two story restored depot in Missouri. Furnished with railroad memorabilia and equipment, as well as period antiques upstairs in the station master's home.
Community of Christ Temple & Auditorium (201 S River) The Temple spirals 300 feet high and houses a museum, two theaters, bookstore, 1600 seat sanctuary graced by a world class organ and artwork. Free organ recitals at 3:00 daily, May - September. The Auditorium (1001 W Walnut) also boasts a famous organ and is home to the Children's Peace Pavilion, a free interactive museum for children packed with hands-on activities and exhibits.
Frontier Trails Museum (318 W Pacific) The place to go to understand the important role this region played in Westward Expansion. FrontierTrailsMuseum.org
Historic Independence Square (Lexington and Main) Enjoy eight restaurants, 15 gift and specialty stores and five antiques shops in the charming area surrounding the historic Jackson County courthouse.
Independence Center Sample all the best in retail shopping. Take a break at the indoor play area or spin on the elegant carousel.
Midwest Genealogy Center (3440 S Lee's Summit Rd) This new center is the largest public genealogy library in the nation.
Mormon Visitors Center (937 W Walnut) Learn about the key roles Mormons played in frontier.
Pioneer Spring Cabin (Truman and Noland Roads) Take a walk back into time and during a look at log cabin life in the 1800s.
Puppetry Arts Institute (11025 E Winner Rd) Puppet shows, displays, workshops and much, much more! Hazelle.org
Skate Park at Hill Park (23rd St and Maywood) Concrete bowls, rails, stairs and grind blocks allow kids to show their skate skills.
Spraygrounds Water mist, spray and shooting water let kids cool off. Located in Rotary Park (24th and Hedges) and McCoy Park (24th Hwy and N Delaware).
Walking Trails Hike one of the three marked walking trails, with the themes of Truman sites, Mormon heritage and the Swales (ruts) made by covered wagons.
The Tourism web site, VisitIndependence.com, offers themed packages with discounted admission and lodging at various hotels and B & Bs.