The time capsules of Americana history that you find along road trips are welcome ways to break up long drives and receive educational and stimulating information. I am a fan of these sites and I have been since I was a kid. The teacher in me may have been influenced by these side excursions. One particular one has been a time capsule for me in personal ways. A visit to Truman’s birthplace back in 1978 on the way to a trip to Missouri was very influential for me. It was the first time I thought about the humble origins of an American president. It was the first time we entered a house of an American president. The tiny edifice fascinated me. I was not as used to domestic travel as I was to international travel. Because of the latter, it made road trip excursions novel and exciting in their own way.

Going with our Papou (grandpa) also made it unique because he didn’t go on trips with us abroad. So having him with us on my first visit to Truman’s birthplace was a special memory. Decades later, I kept wondering if I’d happen upon that tiny little home museum of Truman’s birthplace. Recently, it was on our route home from Kansas City. Filled with nostalgia, I convinced my husband that we should stop to see it.

A high school boy was our docent and he did a nice job showing us the house. All those years ago when I saw it, I was a little girl. This time, I was looking at it from the perspective of a travel writer. I happened to know some info about Truman because of a middle school research paper I did on General Douglas MacArthur. I also liked his daughter’s (Margaret Truman Daniel) book First Ladies. Whether you are interested in presidents or not, many visitors to this site might appreciate it simply for its antiques! The period furniture, dishes, appliances, etc. are charming and quaint. It’s actually a two- story house which shocked my husband. The bedroom on the first floor is where Mrs. Truman delivered the President so that she wouldn’t have to climb the steep stairs to the bedrooms above.

The simplicity of the house’s layout set among the humble town of Lamar was something to enjoy in and of itself. Nearby is a cemetery that we drove through because of its stately monuments dating way back to the early 1900s.If you get a chance to stop and visit this free museum, I highly recommend it. Not only will it only take up only 20 minutes of your time (grounds included), it may give you a patriotic feeling while you are going down memory lane into Americana history.

Factoids about Truman:

• His Missouri roots are broad and diverse.  His grandparents moved to Westport Landing in the 1840s which was later renamed Kansas City. Truman’s parents moved to Lamar working in farming and livestock.
• The birthplace home we visited was reportedly purchased for $685.
• Pres. Truman never went to college but reportedly did a semester at a business college.
• After moving to Harrisonville and other cities, President Harry Truman worked in Kansas City in various jobs including the Kansas City Star and two banks. He fought in World War I and later opened a men’s clothing store in Kansas City. Eventually, he landed in politics.

In the surge of domestic road trips this particular year has brought, take some time to look up other landmarks and sightseeing spots that may interest you. Discovering the roots of America is always important.

© Gina Michalopulos Kingsley