Harry S. Truman Historic District
Harry S. Truman Historic District
The Harry S. Truman Historic District is in Independence, Missouri. It is a National Historic Landmark District that includes sites closely connected to President Harry S. Truman, especially his life in Independence.
The district centers on the Truman Home, also called the Wallace House, at 219 North Delaware Street. This was Truman’s home for much of his adult life and is now part of the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site. The district also includes the Truman Presidential Library.
History and features
- The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974. In 2011, the district’s boundaries were enlarged to include more sites and the surrounding environment where Truman worked and lived in Independence.
- Wallace House details: The house was built by Bess Wallace’s grandfather, George Gates, between 1867 and 1895. Harry S. Truman and Bess Wallace lived there after their marriage in 1919. In 1919, Truman helped run a men’s clothing store in Kansas City, but the business failed in 1922. The couple stayed at the Wallace House while Truman paid off debts and began his political career. Their daughter, Mary Margaret, was born there on February 17, 1924. The district also includes nearby homes of Bess’s brothers and the home of Truman’s aunt and cousins across Delaware Street.
- Tours and visitor center: Guided tours are offered, and a visitor center is located in a nearby historic firehouse.
- Truman’s living arrangements: Truman never owned a home. He lived with family members, rented apartments and houses in Washington, D.C., and stayed at places such as Blair House and the White House, but he never bought a house.
Other notes
- After retiring from the presidency in 1953, Truman lived in Independence until the Truman Library opened in 1957. The Wallace House served as his office at times during those years.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 18:00 (CET).