Andrew Drumm Institute

The Andrew Drumm Institute is a historic facility in Independence, Missouri that sprawls across substantial grounds and comprises ten preserved buildings. These structures served as housing and training spaces for boys, with the grounds themselves operating as a working farm.

The facility was founded in 1929 after rancher Andrew Drumm left his estate for this purpose in his will. It developed into an active place where disadvantaged boys could live and learn together.

The place served boys from difficult circumstances with hands-on training in farming and practical skills as core parts of their education. The buildings and grounds still reflect this educational mission today.

The site is protected as a historic landmark and was added to the register in 2006 to ensure its preservation. Visitors should expect a large property that takes time to explore and may not be entirely open to the public.

The grounds operated as a fully working farm from the beginning, with crops, livestock, and gardens where boys performed real farm labor. This approach gave residents not just lessons but actual experience they could later use in life.