MISSOURI for Jaden!

Lewis and Clark Trailhead Plaza

Missouri State Capitol 

Thomas Jefferson

Heroic bronze figures on either side of the grand staircase represent Missouri's two great rivers, the Mississippi and Misouri.

One of two matching fountains near the south entrance.

The north side of the Missouri Capitol overlooks the Missouri River.

Signing of the Louisiana Purchase

Monroe, Livingston, and Mareois

Fountain of the Centaurs

Missouri River

Govenor's Mansion

Old Missouri State Penitentiary 

St. Charles, Missouri

The two newly constructed adjoining Federal-style brick buildings were chosen for the temporary home  of the state legislators.

The Missouri legislature met upstairs while the new capitol in Jefferson City was being constructed.

On the ground floor was the Peck Brothers general store and a carpenter's shop.

Double crib dog-trot cabin on grounds of First State Capitol.

305 Morgan Street Log Cabin, the log cabin was built around 1835 by a German couple.  As time passed, a frame building was built around it.  When it was decided to tear down the structure, they found the cabin nestled inside and decided to save it!

Lewis and Clark Monument in Frontier Park includes Clark's Newfoundland dog, Seaman.

Missouri River, this area is the center of a river system consisting of water routes extending hundreds of miles in all directions.  It is also the spot on the Missouri where Lewis and Clark's Corp of Discovery camped.

Latitude 38° 46' 24" North, Longitude 90° 28' 56" West with an elevation of 445 feet above sea level.

Dugout canoe, one of two canoes carved by Discovery Expedition of St. Charles to commemorate the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  The canoes were used to go down the Clearwater, Snake, and Columbia rivers in 2005 and the Yellowstone and Missouri on the return trip in 2006.  Length: 32' 8"  Weight: 3,000 pounds  Wood: Ponderosa Pine 

Can you imagine portaging a 3,000 pound canoe?

Missouri Vending Machine, this would never happen in Oregon - cigarettes next to the candy bars!

CARS

Who do you like better?  Lightning McQueen or Tow Mater?

Independence, Missouri

Jackson County Truman Courthouse at the center of Independence Square, the official starting point of three historic trails; the Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail, and California Trail.

Clock tower

Statue of Harry S. Truman, our 33rd U.S. President.  The restored office and courtroom Truman used as county judge are inside.

Mule drawn wagon ride on Independence Square.

Clinton's Soda Fountain, Harry's first job - he made $3.00 a week!  And his favorite treat was chocolate ice cream with butterscotch sauce!

1827 Log Courthouse, Truman held court here in the 1930's.

Noland House, Harry Truman's cousins lived here, across the street from Bess Wallace.  His aunt sent him across the street to return a cake pan and the romance between Harry and Bess Wallace began.

Wallace/Truman Home

Presidents and dignitaries entered through the front door but friends of the Truman's followed the walkway to the side entrance.

219 North Delaware was painted white by the townspeople of Independence to welcome the Trumans home after he retired as President.  It has remained white ever since.  

Friends entered here...

No pictures were allowed inside but I did find this one of the kitchen.  When Bess Truman died in 1982 at the age of 97, Margaret Truman sets the table in the kitchen and dining room but everything else remains as it was when the Trumans lived in the house.  My favorite was Harry's hat, coat, and cane hanging from hooks near the back door - ready for him to take his daily walk.  

This back screened porch was a santuary for Harry and Bess.  He liked to read the newspaper here, she played cards with friends, and they often ate meals on the porch.

Notice how the yard is overgrown and even has dandelions!  Truman hated to mow so the Parks Service has left it just as it would have been when Harry and Bess lived in the house.  Our tour guide said the grass was actually a little too short!  Immediately after Truman's death in 1972, Bess Truman removed the Secret Service guard house that sat near this back gate.

Bess Truman's brothers lived in these two house just out the back door of 219 North Delaware.  They were a very close knit family with the brothers and their families often coming to dinner at 219 North Delaware.

Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

Missouri native Thomas Hart Benton's mural titled "Independence and the Opening of the West" dominates the museum lobby.

The Oval Office as Harry S. Truman had it in 1950.  It was also the first time a television appeared in the Oval Office.

Famous sign that is now part of American political folklore.  The sign came to express Truman's decisiveness and accountability.

Newspaper declaring Dewey the winner of the presidential election - Truman had some with the headline!

Truman was the first world leader to recognize the new state of Israel on May14, 1948.  His thoughts were greatly influenced by the Holocaust.  In 1961, the former president received this letter from a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who emigrated to the United States.  Enclosed with the letter was this small piano, the only personal belonging she had of her life before the war.  She offered it to Truman "as a measure of our gratitude".

Eternal Flame of Freedom

Courtyard

Oregon flag

Beautiful yellow roses planted behind the gravesite of Bess and Harry Truman.

 

Harry S. Truman died on December 26, 1972 at the age of 88.  Bess died 10 years later on October 18, 1982.  Margaret Truman Daniel and her husband, E. Clifton Daniel are also buried in the museum courtyard.

Truman Family Farm

The family farm of Harry Truman where the future president spent 14 years of his youth and early adulthood is located in Grandview, Missouri.

"... Riding one of these plows all day, day after day, gives one time to think.  I've settled all the ills of mankind in one way or another while riding along seeing that each animal pulled his part of the load."  Harry S. Truman

Sugar Creek, Missouri

Along the roads and highways of our country we've seen many amazing memorials including memorials to the heroes of 911.  We stumbled upon this particular 911 memorial in Sugar Bush and then recorded it with photos, because it really shares with you the wonderful people and communities we've seen on our trip.

Flight 175, South Tower

Steel from Ground Zero World Trade Center, New York, NY.

Flight 77, Pentagon

Flight 11, North Tower

Flight 93, Pennsylvania Field

Kansas City Royals

Entrance to Kauffman Stadium.

Batting practice before game started.

Stadium seating, only 13,000 baseball fans on this cold evening!  Kauffman Stadium has a seating capacity of 27,000.

Kansas City set a new low temperature for May two nights in a row - very cool until the sun went down and the wind slowed.  Brrrrr...

Kansas City Royals vs Baltimore Orioles, Orioles win 2 to 1.

The Royals Lion Mascot was very entertaining and the kids loved him!

St. Charles, Missouri

Just over 100 riders were employed during the operation of the Pony Express.  In early March 1860 this ad appeared in a California newspaper;

 "Wanted:  Young, skinny wiry fellows.  Not over 18.  Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily.  Orphans preferred.  Wages $25 per week."  

Although all were expert riders, few were orphans.  The youngest rider was eleven and the oldest in his forties.  Each rider's route was approximately 100 miles.  Sometimes evading hostile Indians, he rode day and night at about 10 miles per hour in all types of terrain and weather.

On April 3, 1860 a lone rider left from the gates of Pikes Peak Stables carrying saddlebags filled with our nation's hopes and dreams.  These brave riders raced against nature's cruel elements to unite a country separated by distance.

Childhood home of Jesse James, notorious outlaw, bank robber, train robber, and murderer!