The Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site in Missouri is a memorial to the 33rd president of the United States which includes the Truman Museum Shrine Monument and the house in which he was born on Thursday, May 8, 1884.
Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site in Missouri
John Truman and his wife Martha purchased the house in 1882 for $685.00. An Austrian pine was planted in the yard and a mule shoe was nailed above the front door by John Truman to commemorate the birth of his son Harry. John Truman earned an uneven livelihood trading horses and mules. The family moved out of the house north to Harrisonville in Cass County in Missouri when Harry was eleven months old.
A wide brick path leads from the sidewalk to the entrance on the side of the house that leads to the kitchen. What appears to be an outhouse is seen on the right side of the above photograph, as the main house apparently was not equipped with indoor plumbing.
From the kitchen entrance of the house, an interpretive program is given. When the house was constructed back in 1880, doorways and halls were very narrow. Modifications would compromise the historicity of the structure. The narrowness of the hallsmay be a barrier to some visitors. For this reason, photo albums are available to flip through.
Unfortunately, the house was closed to visitors when I arrived, as the door was locked — but I was still able to peer inside through the glass window of the door. A virtual tour can be taken here if you want to see more of the inside of the small house with six rooms and a brick fireplace.
A well is located adjacent to the original unrestored smoke house in the back yard.
Inscribed in stone on this shrine are the following words:
THIS SHRINE IS DEDICATED TO
HARRY S. TRUMAN
THIRTY SECOND PRESIDENT
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WHO WAS BORN AT THIS LOCATION
MAY 8, 1884 –
DEC. 26, 1972“I ASK ONLY TO BE A
GOOD AND FAITHFUL
SERVANT OF MY LORD
AND MY PEOPLE.” H.S.T.COUNTY JUDGE – 1923-1925
PRESIDING JUDGE – COUNTY COURT – 1927-1935
UNITED STATES SENATOR – 1935-1945
VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – 1945
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – 1945-1953
The words that are inscribed into this stone are as follows:
IN MEMORIAM
HARRY S TRUMAN
BORN LAMAR, MISSOURI MAY 8, 1884
DIED KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI DECEMBER 26, 1972
PATRIOT – STATESMAN – LEGIONNAIRE
FIRST LEGIONNAIRE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATESTHIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED IN MAY 1984 BY
LEGIONNAIRES AND FRIENDS OF THE AMERICAN
LEGION DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI THROUGH
EFFORTS OF THE 15TH DISTRICT.
Final Boarding Call
The aforementioned tree has since been removed; but a cross section of the tree is available to view in the visitor center. The United Auto Workers donated the home to the Missouri state park system in 1959. Harry S. Truman attended the dedication of his birthplace as a state historic site.
I would be surprised if the name of the street was Truman Street during its entire existence. If it had a different name at one time, I have not found out what it was at the time this article was written.
Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
1009 Truman Street
Lamar, Missouri 64759
United States of America
+1-417-682-2279
+1-800-334-6946
+1-800-379-2419 TDD
No admission is charged to visit Harry S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site.
An accessible washroom and toilet are available in the Visitor Services building across East 11 Street street from the house.
In front of the office is a gathering place with benches and an accessible water fountain. A spacious lobby with helpful staff is inside of the building to interpret pictures and provide information. No public telephone is provided.
Operating Hours
- Historic Site Grounds: Sunrise to sunset, every day of the year
- Site Office and Gift Shop Hours:
- Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 in the morning through 4:00 in the afternoon
- Sunday from noon through 4:00 in the afternoon from April 1 through October 31 only
Complimentary tours are offered during the aforementioned hours.
Free parking is available in a small parking lot adjacent to the site office and gift shop — as well as along the street. One handicap parking space is offered adjacent to a paved pathway leading to the entrance of the office building.
If you are interested in reading about the birth site of another president of the United States, please refer to this article pertaining to the Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens in Omaha in Nebraska.
All photographs ©2025 by Brian Cohen.
