Truman Reservoir

Truman Reservoir is a large body of water in central Missouri, created by an earthen dam on the Osage River. The surface covers roughly 55,600 acres (about 225 square kilometers), surrounded by wooded hills and gentle shorelines where many coves and inlets cut into the landscape.

Construction started in 1964 under the name Kaysinger Bluff Dam and was later renamed to honor President Harry S. Truman. The dam was built to control flooding along the Osage River and the Missouri River, preventing the regular spring floods that had occurred for decades.

The Regional Visitor Center presents exhibits about the lake's natural history, environmental activities, and technical operations through a 67-seat theater.

The visitor center provides information about recreational opportunities around the lake, while several marinas along the shoreline offer access to the water. The wooded areas surrounding the reservoir have marked trails and campsites suitable for extended stays.

During flood events, the water level rises significantly and the surface can expand to as much as 200,000 acres (about 810 square kilometers). This enormous change temporarily transforms quiet coves into wide expanses of water and submerges parts of the shoreline vegetation.