Truman Library and Museum
As part of our WTAMU Summer Institute, 2006, 32 history educators traveled to Independence, Missouri to spend time at the Harry S Truman Library and Museum. Not only did Library staff make available access to their archives, we modeled innovative ways to use primary sources in the classroom!
After we finished will the Cold War, we stepped further back in time to visit the National Frontier Trails Museum and the Arabia Steamboat Museum. I found both to be fascinating vignettes on life in the 19th century American West.
I really enjoyed this trip! This was by far my favorite of all the things I have been able to attend. I enjoyed the hands on at the Truman Library. My elementary teacher background made me very excited about all of the kid friendly parts of the Truman library. It was a fun, hands on way to learn about the President, and the era of his life.
I also enjoyed the White House Decision Center! I loved looking at the primary doucments, getting to see the classification/declassification of them. That experiece has made me so much more appreciative of the people that have to actually make decisions in real life what we had to do.
I have to admit that I enjoyed my first professional baseball game as well, even though the Rangers lost, it was still a very fun experience.
I enjoyed the National Frontier Museum. It was interesting to listen to the guide talking about the wild frontier of the Santa Fe trai, the Indians of the Texas plains, the issues with Meixco over Texas. It was a new prespective on something I have grown up hearing and seeing.
I think my favorite part of the trip was hands down the Arabia Steamboat Museum! I could have spent a day there and would still be willing to go back and see it again. I was so facinated will all of the artifcts that survived and the wonderful condition they were in.
I really enjoyed the whole trip and would love to go back and visit soon!
This was by far the absolute best “field” trip the PACETAH group has been on! I was amazed at the amount of artifacts in the Truman Museum and took over 150 digital photographs while I was there. I do have to admit that I was in awe of the “Whitehouse in Miniature” and of all the little ceramic Presidential figurines that were lined up.
The best part of the trip was the Arabia Steamboat Museum! I wish I could take my students there! I am always thankful of museums that allow me to take digital photographs because then I can take them back to my students and show them all the wonderful artifacts. I didn’t realize they had rubber buttons back then! And the boots were so narrow, they would make me want to go barefooted rather than wear them. It is also absolutely amazing that private citizens undertook the extraction of the Arabia and have accomplished what they have without governmental red-tape or restrictions! Do you suppose there is any buried “treasure” like that in the Texas Panhandle??
The National Frontier Museum was also a treat. I didn’t realize that trains could be signaled with so many different colored lanterns. It was also amazing to see the display on the “Gold Rush Widow” and the size of the Conestoga wagon.
I am always so appreciative of Danna and the PACETAH grant for enabling me to experience history firsthand and allow me to bring back goodies for my students. A picture says a thousand words…
The trip to the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, on June 7-9, 2006, was yet another “awesome” experience in this PACETAH grant. Just looking at the original papers in the Truman Library archives was so much fun. I actually read Truman’s request for UN action in the Korean War–that is so hard to find anywhere else. It was the source I was needing to complete my research paper on the “Cold War”. Also, the facilities and the highly professional presentation by the director of the White House Decision Center was among the best I have ever been to or listened to in my three years of this grant.
We also got to view the White House Miniature Replica that was on display in the museum. Amazing that it is so accurate, yet, so small. The TVs even worked. Viewing the burial sites of Harry and Bess and seeing his office where he last worked was bitter sweet, yet, educational.
Besides, the library, we visited the National Trails Museum in Independence and the ARABIA steamboat museum in Kansas City. I wasn’t that impressed with the National Trails Museum. It was the type of museum that would have an appeal to young people. But, I was especially impressed with the steamboat museum. The artifacts on display were so intreging (thousands of buttons, hardware, plates, pottery, shoes for the 1850’s, and we actually got to help clean a 1857 piece of hardware from the shipwreck in their preservation lab. To top it off, we got to visit with Mr. Doug Hawley, the man who excavated the steamboat from a cornfield just north of Kansas City.
Danna Beck planned a great trip–hightly educational and very interesting.
The trip to the Truman Library and Museum was an extremely valuable learning opportunity. I admit that I had limited knowledge of the Truman era. The hands-on cooperative learning activities were fabulous. Going through the White House Decision Making process and the Spy’s Dilema extended my understanding of this period of history immensely. One of the greatest aspects of the PACETAH grant is the friendship that has grown between the participants. This is vital to the experiences we have access to, such as the Truman Library trip. We have such a colegial relationship, we are comfortable interacting in areas in which we might otherwise be reluctant, like these activities centered in this period of time I was not comfortable discussing. I see such a correlation to my students. I have to establish that comfort level in the classroom to encourage them to take risks when I ask them to role play, interact, and step out of their comfort zone.
I learned so much through the activities in Independence. The Arabia Steamboat Museum was fantastic. I am a closet archeologist, so I was captivated by the descriptions of how they proceded through their journey of locating, excavating, and preserving the steamboat. I would love to take my students to see it…… a little far, though!
This was a wonderful learning experience!
This was one trip that was absolutely worth it (aside from the tour of the crack houses, which some may find helpful, just not me…lol). I enjoyed the Truman Library and the Decision Making training. It was fun and informative.
The Arabia Steamboat Museum was by far my favorite! I loved everything from the tour, video to the archealogical dig! I would go back in a heartbeat.
And of course the baseball game…it was a great bonding time for both old and new members of the grant.
See you next week.
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The trip to Independence, Missouri this summer was wonderful! We were busy at the Truman Library and Museum with tours of the archives, going through the White House Decision Making Process, playing Spy’s Dilema and actually sitting down to look at some primary sources from the Cold War era. I ended up reading some letters that were written during the Nuremberg Trials and completely lost track of time! You could truely spend a lifetime in those archives! Fortunately, many of the sources are already posted on the Truman Library’s website.
We also went to the National Trails Museum. It sure makes you appreciate the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, TX! Our final stop was the Arabia Steamboat Museum and we had definately saved the best for last. So many of the artifacts were perfectly preserved, from dishes to tools, it was exciting to see. We even had a chance to help clean some of the artifacts in their preservation lab. We sure looked “cute” in those goggles, lab coats and gloves! We had a great time in Independence and I am looking forward to Boston and D.C..
This was an amazing trip. I was a little upset we didn’t get more research time in the Truman Library. But I have to say the overall experience was well worht the time. This was my first time in a Presidential Library. I was amazed by the detail of the White House in miniature.
Probably my favorite part of the trip was the Arabia Museum. And of course all the mad scientists cleaning artifacts towards the end of the day. I really enjoy these hands on history trips and projects.
This was a wonderful trip. I couldn’t believe we crammed so much into three days. This was my second trip to the Truman Library, but we saw so much more this time. I was fascinated by the archives and how everything is stored. I would have enjoyed some time going through the photographs in the audio-visual room. The simulation of the crisis room was interesting and fun and a real eye-opener to the decision-making process. There was enough time to see all of the exhibits; I had missed the downstairs on the earlier visit. My favorite exhibit was the pictures of the White House rennovation and seeing the heavy equipment in the shell of the structure.
At the Frontier Museum a few of us were able to convince the man at the Railroad Museum to let us have a quick peek. The waiting area and telegraph/ticket office were very interesting. There were so many items to see and the gentleman explained things he felt were interesting. We were able to go upstairs to see the stationmaster’s living quarters which was furnished with period furniture. My son would love this museum–there were several miniature trains upstairs. I enjoyed the different wagons displayed at the Frontier Museum and there were several other items as well.
The Arabia was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. I hope to take my family to see it someday. Seeing the first large window display with all of the dishes, pots and pans, buckets, tools, and writing utensils was overwhelming. The story tells itself. I couldn’t get over the fact that settlers were depending on these things to help them with their new lives on the frontier. Losing them meant that they either had to improvise or do without. I am so impressed with the family for what they have done with their treasure. Cleaning an artifact was the highlight of the day. I really liked using the dental pick!
It was a treat to be on a trip with teachers and so thoroughly enjoy myself.
We were fortunate that we had a group that was able to be collegial and congenial at the same time.
It boggles my mind to think of the things I will be able to relate to my students in the future about the Oregon Trail.
Thanks to Danna for being our leader and keeping us on task (most of the time).
I especially enjoyed Staci and her little friend C** C**.
I have always believed that nothing is more educational than to physically “go and do”. Our fortunate group received excellent instuction about the Cold War and Harry S. Truman from professors Rausch and Vinzinni before we departed. Because of creative and well-developed planning by Dana Beck and Dr. Shafer, we traveled to Independence, MO and experienced first hand, and “hands-on” the life of Truman and the United States at the beginning of the Cold War.
The Truman Museum and Library aspires to be as user-friendly and informative as a depository of a president’s papers, mementos, and biographical information can be. Also impressive was the educational attitude of the staff of the library. They are to be commended for being most cooperative and creative. The simulation of the Berlin Airlift Crisis Press Conference from inside the White House is something I hope to adapt for my classroom.
I am sure the Truman Library and Musuem must be the best of its kind.
We were fortunate also to be able to see the traveling 60 foot display of the White House in very-detailed miniature. I loved it.
I had no idea before this trip how much of historical interest there is to experience in the Kansas City area. Being able to explore the museum of the Arabia, and actually getting to properly clean a screw reclaimed from this steamship that sunk in 1857, made me wish to be able to devise a similar experience for my students. They would all be in love with history!
I am very grateful for the knowledge and the experience gained during this summer’s institute for PACETAH. One cannot help but be a better teacher, no matter how many years of experience.
The Trip to Kansas City was a real treat. I enjoyed the Truman Center. The White House Decision Center was great. To experience the process of the Berlin airlift decision, to be made even with limited information, was a great learning experience. I found the press conference to be taxing to say the least. Even when I knew some of the questions were comming. (thanks Dr. Schaffer)
I tried to view Independance as it was in the trail days when it was the place of origin for the Santa Fe, California and Oregan Trails. This weekend I stood in the plaza in Santa Fe and reflected on the beginnings of the trail. It was a great experience to be at both places in such a short time.
I also viewed Independance as Truman saw it as a boy, farmer, soldier, Judge, supervisor of the roads, President and Ex-President. It was great to ride on the old road from Independance to KC seeing the same buildings that Harry saw.
I loved the baseball game. My first professional game ever. Thanks for the experience everyone. I loved the Artabia. A true vision from the past. It was an homor to meet one that had the guts to put it all together. It was great!!
This trip was an A+ for sure.
I loved the trip to Missouri, even the driving in circles! But hey, at least that bus driver left his shirt on! I really enjoyed the Truman library and the descision making simulation we participated in and being able to visit the Truman graves was a wonderful experience.
I’m embarrassed to admit it but before I went to Missouri I had never heard about the Arabia. My degree is in history and I have taught for 6 years and the Arabia had never entered into the curriculum on either end. I LOVED this museum and it was by far the best part of the trip mainly because it was all new inforamtion to me.
The background inforamtion on Truman that we received from Dr. Rausch and Dr. Vizzini enhanced all the activities that we took part in and I think this was the best summer institute we have had, but of course they have all been wonderful. Thanks Danna.
I think this was the perfect trip! I believe that history teachers should go to as many presidential libraries as possible. In going to the Truman Library, I was able to get not only a sense of Truman the president, but also Truman the man. I am anxious to use the spy game in class that we learned at the library.
As a lover of baseball, I was thrilled to go to the Royals game. It seemed that every one in the group enjoyed the game even though the Rangers lost.
I was also impressed with the Arabia Museum. It is a well organized and interesting museum. I also thought the hands on lesson in preserving artifacts was outstanding.
I really enjoyed going on this trip. This was my first one as a part of the grant, and I felt that all of the experienced members were great about including the “newbies” and showing us the ropes.
I thought going to the Truman Library was great. I enjoyed the Spy Game, and I think my students will love doing it, so I’m looking forward to trying it out in the spring. I wish that we’d been able to have more time on research, though. All the documents we were able to look at were fascinating, and I heard lots of “Look what I found!” sorts of comments while we worked.
This was my first trip with PACETAH. Everything went so smoothly. My favorite was the Truman Library. I enjoyed going over the personal letters and notes from that period. I was impressed with the classes that had been set up for schools at the library. My appreciation for events during the Cold War has grown tremendously. The information from the library, along with the book on Truman, helped put many things into perspective. I also enjoyed the Arabia Steamboat Musuem which I wasn’t even remotely familiar with. I was fascinated with all the objects: buttons to china. It was truly a step back in time. What would have made the trip to Missouri perfect would have been a Ranger victory. Oh well. A little more time, if possible, looking through the archives at the library would have been fun, too.
Our trip to Independence was again another incredible trip. The Truman Library was full of actual sources of the Cold War, the tour there, the hands on, and the role play all were very informative. The Steamboat museum and the oportunity to work in the preservation lab was a real treat. But of course, the trip to the Kansa City vs Texas baseball game was one more thing that added true enjoyment to the trip. Thanks again for the experiences that PACETAH has given me the chance to have.
THE INDEPENDENCE TRIP WAS WONDERFUL. THE TRUMAN LIBRARY IS AN INCREDIABLE SOURCE FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND OTHERS WHO WANT TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT TRUMAN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION. TOO BE HONEST, I NEVER REALLY FOUND AN INTEREST IN TRUMAN UNTIL THIS TRIP. BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND GLEAN THROUGH THE DOCUMENTS MADE ME REALIZE WHAT ROLE HE PLAYED IN AMERICAN HISTORY. TRUMAN SUFFERED THROUGH A VERY HECTIC AND CONTROVERSIAL PRESIDENCY. HE HAS MAY RESPECT!!!! THE ARABIA STEAMBOAT MUSEUM WAS VERY INTERESTING AND IMPRESSIVE. I LOVED THE HANDS ON ARTIFACT CLEANING ACTIVITY. I HAVE LEARNED TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS TO TAKE BACK TO THE CLASSROOM AND TO SHARE WITH MY STUDENTS.