Travel Tuesday at the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum in IndependenceMo

Happy Travel Tuesday Friends, today I would like to be spending it running in circles at the Harry S Truman Library Museum in Independence, MO.  Do you know why?  Because the “Buck Stops Here”…You got it folks, this state of an art museum has something for everyone and you could truly spend hours roaming through it. 

This past Summer when it was warm outside…sighhh…The kiddos and I had the opportunity to spend a few hours at the Truman Museum and as you know my sidekicks are often  have 10 X more energy than I do and  they loved this place.  They loved it so much that they begged to stay and then begged to go back.

The museum is divided up into sections and several sections were way over the head of D-man who is 4 and Lesse who was 8, but others sections captivated them and held their attention for much longer than I expected.  I honestly felt sorry for the lady who accompanied us to the museum as D kept her trapped at one exhibit for probably 30 minutes. 

Making Truman Campaign Buttons

The section of the museum that I felt was focused more toward the youth is the Harry S. Truman: His Life and Times, this is permanent exhibit highlighting the personal side of Harry Truman our 33^rdPresident.  Children get the opportunity to see the life of Harry Truman from just a boy until his death in 1972, they learn about his first job, his family, and his political career. 

The exhibit Truman: The Presidential Years was way over D-man and Lesse’s head; however, momma was very much intrigued by this exhibit.  The Presidential Years focuses on the major issues and events of Harry Truman’s Presidency.   During the Truman Presidency, if you are history buff like my Dad…NOT ME, you will recall President Truman while in office made the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan, much of Europe was in extreme poverty, and the Cold War turned hot.  You could spend hours wondering through this beautiful, very informative, and well-designed history lover’s paradise.

The museum also has temporary exhibits that change out through the year, while we visited we got a glimpse of Tracing the Truman’s: An American Story, focused on Independence, Missouri and it’s two most famous families. 

The Harry S Truman Museum Library and Museum is open Monday through Saturday  9:00 am to 5:00 pm,Sundays from noon to 5:00pm, and they run special summer hours.  The museum does cost to get into and is often closed on holidays, for a complete list of details, and information visit their website. 

 

Have an Adventurous Day,

~Becky 

Learning about the Whistle Car Campaign

Did you know Harry S Truman worked in a Post Office?

A view of the museum.  

Disclosure: our trip to the museum was sponsored by the city of Independence Missouri, but all thought & opinions are my own.

Find your Halloween Thrill in Independence, MO

Spend Friday Night among the Ghost

Tour the 4859 Jail and Marshal’s house, followed by a narrated covered wagon ride through historical Independence, MO.  Learn the frightful ghost stories and yarns of haunted places on the Independence Square.  Tours are available at 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. every Friday in October, with a maximum of 15 in each group. Cost is $18 for adults, $12 for ages 7-11. (not recommended for children under 7). Call 816-461-0065 or go to www.theindependencesquare.comfor reservations, which are required.

Visit The Enchanted Forest

Perfect for ages 1 to 100, slip off George Owens Nature Park to visit The Enchanted Forest with a warm welcome by Effie, the Forest Fairy.  Along the guided candlelit trails visitors will interact with characters such as Winnie the Pooh, Dorothy and her friends from Oz, the Princess and the Pea, Batman, and Black Beard the Pirate and his gang.  The evening ends with an old fashion Hayride.  The Enchanted Forest is open October 19,20,26, and 27 in the George Owens Nature Park at 1601 S. Speck Road and runs from 7-9 p.m. and cost $3.00 a person. 

Mystic Pumpkin Festival 

On Saturday, October 20^th Englewood Arts District brings back the Mystic Pumpkin Festival filled with carnival games, costume contests, pumpkin decorating, haunted fire truck rides, live entertainment, concessions, and vendors.  The fun begins at 2 p.m. and lasts until the ghosts go home!  Call 886-1478 or visit www.englewoodstation.com

Ghost of Independence’s Past Cemetery Walk

The National Frontier Trails Museum invites folks to take a stroll through Woodland Cemetery on Sunday, October 21 from 1:00 to 3:30 pm.  Throughout the cemetery, you will encounter interpreters portraying significant individuals from the city’s past.  Cost is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children age 15 and under.  Pay at the site that day.  Light refreshments will be served.

Proceeds will benefit the National Frontier Trails Museum, www.frontiertrailsmuseum.org

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Puppeteer Rosalie Perryman of RLP performs “Fun in the Pumpkin Patch” at the Puppetry Arts Institute.  Saturday, October 27^that 11 am and 2 pm tickets are $5.00 for all ages make reservations at 816-833-977.  http://www.hazelle.org

Trick or Treat and then a Parade

Saturday October 27^thwatch out for vampires, ghost, cowboys along the Square as Trick or Treating begins at 1:00 pm.  At 3 pm the Square becomes filled with floats, marching bands, clowns, and other Halloween surprises for the big Halloween Parade.  Call 816-461-0065 about trick or treating, 816-252-4745 for the parade.

Let You Skeletons Dance

An adults only lock-in at the Midwest Genealogy Center on Friday, October 26.  Admission of $25 includes dinner, classes, door prizes, and a chance to research your family tree. 

For more information on these events or anything else happening in Independence, MO call 816-325-7111, or 800-748-7323.  You can also find information their website http://www.visitindependence.com.

  

Disclosure: Photos provided by Independence MO

Puppetry Arts Institute Independence, MO

 

The hidden arts in Independence, MO bring life to our long time beloved friends “puppets”.  Almost every child has a love for puppets or at least Pinocchio and at the Puppetry Arts Institute you can watch that love come to life.  

This summer on the kids and I’s road trip to Kansas City, MO we spent the day touring Independence, MO and on our list was the Puppetry Arts Institute.  I must confess at first I was not sure how well this would go over, especially for young Dillard as he has limited patience, but ten minutes into our stop I was proven wrong and I knew!  

Upon arriving at the Puppetry Arts Institute, we had the opportunity to learn a bit of the history behind the institute and Hazelle Harriet Hedges Rollins, the lady originally behind all the puppets.  Hazelle began a small puppet company in 1932 that became the largest puppet factory in the world and was located in Kansas City Missouri.  The factory made marionettes, hand puppets, and finger puppets until the 1980’s when it closed.  Inside the museum, you can see many of the puppets that were produced at the factory. 

Painting Wheeler Dog Puppet

Now for the real fun, we got to make our very own puppets. 

If I had to rate the things we did this summer on a scale of most remembered I would have to say making our own puppets would top the list.  In fact, the puppets are probably our still most favorite souvenir from the summer.  The Puppetry Arts Institute offers workshops that allow children (or adults) to get hands on experience making their own puppet.  The session takes a half an hour to an hour and you choose your puppet, paint your puppet, and give your puppet a body.  Children over the age of 12 can also make their very own Hazelle Clown Marionette, however, these take 3 to 4 hours and can take a bit if patience.    

If you plan your visit right you can also catch a first class Puppet Show, monthly the institute host puppet shows suitable for all ages.  Visit here for their schedule of shows and upcoming events.  

Have an Adventurous Day!   

~Becky 

Our Puppet Show

The Museum 

Creating Cora the Ballerina 

not sure, but love how attentive he was!

Disclosure:  Our visit to The Puppetry Arts Institute was sponsored by Independence Missouri, a big thank you to them for giving us the opportunity, but all thoughts, opinions, and photos are mine....and the kids belong to me also!

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6 Family friendly attractions in Independence, MO

In the historical town of Independence, MO located just outside of Kansas City, you can make history come to life and enjoy history as a family. Independence has a unique Mormon history, many of the frontier settlers passed through here, and Independence was home to our 33^rd President Harry S Truman "The Buck Stops Here."

 Discovering the Life of our 33^rd President

The Harry S Truman Library and Museum brings history down to a child’s level. A majority of the Truman Library and Museum is aimed toward the older visitors and bringing the history and events surrounding the Truman Presidency. However, tucked away on the lower level of the museum is the “Harry S. Truman: His Live and Times” exhibit. This area is perfectly designed to enlighten the brains of those who are not old enough to remember Truman’s famous line “Buck Stops Here”. There is four interactive stations giving children the opportunity to learn what it was like when Truman was a Postmaster. Children can make their own campaign buttons, unlock the secrets to Harry Truman’s jobs, and dress up and pretend to be President Truman.  Continue to read more