Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Presidential library and museum in Independence, United States.
The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum is a presidential library and museum in Independence that documents Harry S. Truman's time in office through photographs, artifacts, and original documents. The building includes several exhibition rooms, a reading room for research materials, and a courtyard with green space.
The building opened on July 6, 1957, making it the first presidential library created under the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955. Truman himself took an active part in planning and shaping the institution before it became accessible to the public.
The institution carries the name of the 33rd President of the United States, who returned to his hometown after leaving office and was regularly seen here as a private citizen. Visitors today experience a collection that shows both official state matters and personal items from the family's everyday life.
The institution is centrally located in Independence and surrounded by parking areas, making arrival by car straightforward. Visitors should plan at least two hours to see both the permanent and changing exhibitions at a comfortable pace.
The courtyard contains the burial sites of President Truman, his wife Bess, and their daughter Margaret, making this presidential library the only one to house such a site within its walls. The courtyard is freely accessible during opening hours and is perceived by many visitors as a quiet place for reflection.
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