Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Kansas City (must see)

The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum serves as the presidential library and final resting place of the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, along with his wife Bess and their daughter Margaret. Established under the provisions of the 1955 Presidential Libraries Act, it was the first of its kind and is one of thirteen presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

Perched on a hill with a view of the Kansas City skyline, the library was built on land donated by the City of Independence and was dedicated on July 6, 1957. The dedication ceremony was attended by notable figures, including former President Herbert Hoover, Chief Justice Earl Warren, and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

The museum has a history of significant thefts. In 1962, a collection of 450 rare coins donated by Truman's Treasury Secretary, John Wesley Snyder, was stolen, and despite efforts by collectors to reconstruct the collection, the original coins were never recovered. In 1978, burglars stole jewel-encrusted swords and daggers gifted to Truman by Saud of Saudi Arabia and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran, items valued at $1 million at the time. To this day, these artifacts remain missing, and in 2021, the FBI offered a reward of up to $1 million for their return.

The library showcases Truman’s life and presidency through two floors of exhibits featuring photographs, documents, artifacts, memorabilia, film clips, and a detailed film about his life. A notable highlight is the library’s replica of the Oval Office, a feature that has inspired similar displays in the libraries of subsequent presidents.

Additionally, the museum offers an educational program called The White House Decision Center, where students can participate in historical decision-making scenarios by taking on the roles of President Truman and his advisors in a recreated West Wing setting. The library also hosted significant events, including Kofi Annan's final speech as Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2006, where he urged the U.S. to embrace multilateralist policies reminiscent of Truman's era.