Cultural Landscape Report: Harry S Truman National Historic Site

Cockrell, Ron; Krueger, Keith

Harry S Truman National Historic Site preserves the longtime home of Harry S. Truman, the thirty-third president of the United States, as well as other properties associated with him in the Kansas City, Missouri metropolitan area. Two Nineteen North Delaware Street, home of Harry S Truman, thirty-third President of the United States, remained in the ownership of the same extended family from 1867 to 1982. Historically, various names have been used for the imposing two-and-a-half-story presidential home: the Gates house or mansion, the Gates/Wallace house, the Gates/Wallace/Truman house, and the Truman home. During the Truman presidency, Americans called it the “Summer White House” in recognition of President Truman’s family’s preference to spend most of the summer at home in Independence. Harry Truman, confined to the White House during the post-World War II period, often referred fondly to his home by its address, a practice which has been copied by most chroniclers of Truman-related history. Following the presidential years (1945-1953), Harry S Truman eschewed many efforts to commemorate his presidency. It was not until 1971 that he finally agreed to a national historic landmark designation for his home and immediate neighborhood. On February 23, 1972, 219 North Delaware Street became the focal point of the Harry S Truman Historic District National Historic Landmark, declared by the Secretary of the Interior and entered in the National Register of Historic Places. After President Truman’s death on December 26, 1972, the Independence City Council agreed to the formation of a seven-member “Heritage Commission” in 1973 to formulate local preservation legislation for the Federally-recognized district. In 1974, with Bess Truman’s support, the city council established the Harry S Truman Heritage District. The city ordinance, which has been amended by two boundary changes in 1979 and 1984, includes restrictions ranging from construction or demolition of structures to tree and shrub plantings and removals. This particular report will dispense with the unnecessary narrative to prove the existence of a cultural landscape utilizing specific National Park Service criteria. The 0.77-acre Truman property (structures, objects, and landscape) is twice listed in the National Register of Historic Places. As the home of President Harry S Truman, it is of primary national significance and is inherently historic.

Cultural Landscape Report: Harry S Truman National Historic Site

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