National Park Service Announces Temporary Closure of the Truman Home in Missouri

INDEPENDENCE , MO–The Truman Home, centerpiece of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, will be closed to public tours beginning Monday, August 3, 2009. The closure is expected to last through spring of 2010.

New heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) and fire suppression systems will be installed in the historic home and plaster will be repaired and stabilized. Historic wallpaper is currently being removed from the dining room and an upstairs bedroom and will be cleaned, repaired, and reinstalled at the end of the project.

The entire construction and conservation project is part of the National Park Service (NPS) Centennial Initiative, introduced in May 2007 by the Secretary of the Interior. The initiative is a 9-year plan to improve facilities and services in the NPS for the 100th anniversary of the agency in 2016. One of the main goals of the initiative is stewardship of natural and cultural resources in our national parks, including rehabilitation, restoration, and maintenance of treasured cultural resources such as the Truman Home .

The Harry S Truman National Historic Site Visitor Center at 223 N. Main Street in Independence will remain open during the closure period. Visitors may view an orientation film about Harry Truman and his life in Independence ; see exhibits featuring Truman family treasures; and view photos of the inside of the Truman Home and the ongoing conservation work. NPS staff will be available to answer questions. Walking tours of the Harry S Truman National Historic Landmark District will be offered on selected days. Please inquire at the information desk about other activities which may be available during your visit. The visitor center is open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

During the construction project at the Truman Home , the Truman Farm Home in Grandview , Mo. , currently open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, will be open daily for public tours beginning Monday, August 3. Tickets are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and may sell out by early afternoon. They may be purchased on the day of the tour at the Farm Home. The cost is $4.00 for adults; children 15 and under are free. The Farm Home will close for the winter on Monday, October 12.

June 22, 2009   Posted in: United States Central