What you ’ ll hear about Truman is true , man
Part of the Kansas City metropolitan area , Independence is , well , an independent city in Missouri with captivating history . “ Home to 16 group-friendly heritage attractions , from pioneer adventures to President Harry S . Truman , Independence offers hands-on history for student groups ,” says Kelsey Mortimer , sales manager with Independence Parks / Recreation / Tourism .
The Harry S . Truman Presidential Library & Museum offers leadership training in The White House Decision Center for grades six through 12 .
“ The nationally recognized , hands-on history lab lets students step into the roles of President Truman and his advisers , work with formerly classified primary source documents and collaborate to tackle some of history ’ s greatest challenges ,” Mortimer says .
The city has many places that tell of Truman ’ s life , including the site of his first job , at Clinton ’ s Soda Fountain ; the Historic Truman Courthouse ; and the Truman Home National Historic Site , his residence for more than five decades .
“ Independence was also the starting point of the California , Oregon and Santa Fe trails . 2018 marks the 175th anniversary of the Oregon Trail , and we have a number of special events planned ,” Mortimer says . “ Come retrace the exact path of the trails through the swales carved by actual wagon trains . Tour historic Independence Square , where it all began .”
At the National Frontier Trails Museum , students can see authentic trail artifacts , read quotations from pioneer journals and letters , and engage in hands-on activities in the only museum in the U . S . that interprets the three trails , plus the Lewis & Clark and Mormon Pioneer trails .
Visitors can also take narrated covered wagon rides with Pioneer Trails Adventures and visit the 1859 Jail & Marshal ’ s Home .
For more information , contact Mortimer at kmortimer @ indepmo . org or go to visitindependence . com .
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Clinton ’ s Soda Fountain
Jack Thornell / The Associated Press
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From the assassinations of civil rights leaders to a protest for human rights at the Olympics , explore the events that marked 1968 as a year of anguish for the civil rights movement .
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