I spent today in Independence MO, with a brief detour into Kansas City after Google maps failed me for the first time. After a number of u-turns, the day began with a visit to the Harry Truman National Historic Site. The tour took you through his house in Independence, where he retired after his presidency ended.
The guide kept emphasizing how modern day presidents could never retire to a small town and live reasonably private lives. It was a very modest home. After that, I walked around the Harry Truman Historic District...and saw many houses. I checked out Independence Square next; not a lot going on, but at one point it was a major westwards trails site, with blacksmith shops, wagons, ox, and a bustle of activity. I saw Clinton's Soda Fountain, where Truman had his first job.
Continuing the Truman theme, next up was the Truman Presidential Library and Museum. I enjoyed it, though it was pretty much like the others I've seen (Carter, Ford, Nixon, and Reagan). I will forever remember the Nixon Library for the Johnny Cash exhibit...but I digress. I do have a beef with these museums. Some of the interactive exhibits allow visitors to vote for their choices of presidential decision making or guess at a president's motives. For example, one today presented dilemmas Truman faced as president, such as choosing to recognize Israel. Then it would ask the audience to choose from four choices--interest group pressure, personal values, long-term good of nation, and recommendation of policy advisors-- which had the most impact on Truman. First, there is no way to answer that without a lot more reading and research. Second, of course, it is an interplay of all these pressures and probably more that resulted in said decision. Interestingly enough, most visitors pick personal values in the survey. I think this is because the exhibits are all geared toward explaining Truman's personal beliefs, including fairness for African-Americans, concern for Holocaust survivors, and saving American lives to end World War II. I don't know. It was a decent museum but simplifying the issue does not help the American public learn anything. As proof of that, there was a scrapbook like thingy in which to write your opinion on the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Most people wrote something like "I love you Harry" or "Rock on! Right decision". I flipped through and found a few thoughtful entries pro/con/ambivalent, mostly by young kids who couldn't spell but at least were trying. Admittedly, I did not take the time to write anything, but I would have been there a long time to write out my thoughts. Anyway, I did enjoy my visit to the museum and I reconnected with that period in history.
After that, I checked out a view of the Upper Independence Landing, which looked out over the Missouri River and is presently on the grounds of a lumber company. It was the landing closet to Independence for emigrants arriving by steamboat. It was surprisingly peaceful. Next, I had lunch at probably the most expensive restaurant in Independence, but it was really good and I was starving (blackened tiliapia sandwich with sweet potato fries, so pretentious).
Next up was the National Frontier Trails Center. This is kind of a cheesy museum, but they have a done a good job with what resources they have. The movie romanticizes the trail--especially in regard to Native American issues--but then the museum exhibits are pretty blunt describing both the positive and negative impacts of westward expansion. Mostly it had primary source material from diaries to go along with maps and material objects. It jazzed me up for the rest of the trip and the lady there was very nice and said I was "brave."
So yeah, I got back to the hotel late afternoon, and checked the weather. I had just read in the museum you can't leave too early on your Oregon Trail journey (or if anyone played the computer game, you know the dangers of that). And yeah, it's likely going to snow on Thursday night/Friday--potentially a blizzard. Right now I'm not changing any plans, but I may get stuck in Scottsbluff Nebraska for a second night, or might have to veer off the trail a bit to get to Casper Wyoming, where I targeted for Friday night. We shall see what tomorrow's weather report says. I should be able to make it to Scottsbluff, though my visit to Chimney Rock and Scottsbluff National Monument will either be cut short or will be in windy, rainy, and snowy weather. Hey, it could be fun; I brought my coat. I've got over three weeks of stuff to do, so let the adventure begin! Tomorrow I'm driving through Kansas into southern Nebraska and ending up at Kearney, visiting a few sites along the way.
I'm doing a lousy job of integrating pictures into the blog--but the pics from today are right here:
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