(see photos)
We are spending he day today exploring around Kansas City. We first head a little east to Independence where we first spot the train station which is a good introduction to this area that was so important to the westward movement of thousands - tens of thousands - of people in the Nineteenth Century. From Lewis and Clark in 1803 to adventurous men and families headed for a better life in Oregon 25 years later, the fortune seekers headed to California to see the elephant (and find the gold) in 1849, to the homesteaders starting new lives in the midwest, and then, with the coming of the railroad, people spreading northwest, southwest and straight across the continent.
All of these stories are represented in the National Frontier Trails Museum in Independence. The icon of the expansion of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, is represented by a bust near the entrance. The icon of exploration of the Western half of the continent, Jim Bridger, is featured as a bronze statue in a niche in the exterior wall of the museum Stories and interpretive panels in the museum tell about the enthusiasm of the prospect and progress of westward expansion, the dangers and difficulties, the triumphs and tragedies, the conflicts and compromises (which some might call conquests). For trappers and mountain men, American traders and Mexican merchants, Oregon farmers and California argonauts, rural farmers and railroad barons the trails, roads and rails were vital to their successes.
Our next stop was the Harry S. Truman library and museum. While the trails museum seemed a long time ago and a long way away, the Truman library and museum seemed like yesterday. Mostly devoted to Truman's life once he succeeded Franklin Roosevelt int he White House, the events and activities described seemed very contemporary. His description on April 13, 1945, the he "felt like the the moon, the stars, and all the planets had fallen on me" certainly seemed to be a prescient expression of his 7 years in office. Exhibits of Life Magazine from his presidential term, as well as newspaper headlines, seem like a staggering load for a haberdasher from Kansas.
The museum is divided into three parts - the recreation of the White House oval office, his post-presidential office where he spent his time after he left Washington, and the museum itself. There is also a library in the building, but one needs a reason and a proposal to go in there. I suppose every presidential library is designed to show the subject in the best light possible - attempting to convince the visitor that this president had the most responsibility, the most difficult decisions, the most recalcitrant opposition, the most successful legislative agenda, the greatest compassion, the most farsightedness, and the friendliest demeanor of any president before or after. The Truman museum makes a convincing argument for President Truman's case in each of those areas.
After leaving the Truman Museum we head for one of the original River crossing a few miles away called Upper Independence. Once common route of travel for westward bound travelers was to take a steamboat up the Missouri then proceed overland to wherever they were head to the west. This site was one of the earliest landing area where steamboat passengers would disembark and manage to get there belongings up the step cliffs to start their overland journey. At one point some enterprising businessmen developed a horse drawn rail system to get the passengers and their luggage up the steep cliffs. This business did not prove to be successful, and the landing area was moved slightly up river to a more convenient location.
The final stop of the day is the Jackson County Historic Truman Courthouse. It is called the Truman Courthouse because Judge Harry S. Truman had a courtroom and office in the building. His career as a judge apparently was more concerned with civic development activities - more like a elected county government official than a trial court judge. The courthouse in under renovation at present, so we did not get to go inside, but there are a number of informative signs and monuments around the building. A bronze statue of Andrew Jackson (presented to the people of Jackson County by President Truman) adorns the front entrance, monuments marking the Oregon Trail and the Santa Fe Trail signify the importance of the city, and there is a plaque with information about the Civil War Battle of Independence - a Confederate victory, but a costly one. Losses of several Confederate military leaders turned out to be a critical loss for the Confederacy as the war played out. The three colonels, two majors, three captains, and two lieutenants lost in the Battle of Independence we significant losses that could not be easily replaced.
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