“I can’t think of another piece of landscape of similar size where so many things have happened that have been of significance in the story of America.”
— David McCullough Pulitzer Prize winning historian and Harry S Truman biographer
This is a rarely seen formal portrait taken of Harry Truman while his was a Jackson County administrative judge. The photograph was taken by the Strauss-Peyton studio whose extensive photo collection is held by the Jackson County Historical Society.

This is a rarely seen formal portrait taken of Harry Truman while his was a Jackson County administrative judge. The photograph was taken by the Strauss-Peyton studio whose extensive photo collection is held by the Jackson County Historical Society.

From the JCHS Executive Director

Executive Director Blog
Tomorrow, catch "Anything Goes" on KKFI, Community Radio 90.1 FM. Host Charles
Truman Courthouse renovation program tomorrow.....
Another First Friday weekend is upon us..... time to chase some history!

We managed to make history here is Kansas City yesterday, with the first significant snowfall on May 3rd, in 107 years.  While this has caused a number of organizations to postpone some outdoor events, the weather is still plenty good enough to hit the West Bottoms.

"The Kansas City That Never Was...."

The Pitch began a new series of articles today, looking back to various projects and structures that were planned, but never built, here in the Kansas City area. 

May is Historic Preservation Month!

Preserve history this May with some JCHS programs.

Play ball

There is lots of excitement about baseball.

The Kansas City Royals are winning - that seems rather historic on its own terms - but the really historic event is the release of the new Jackie Robinson movie.

JCHS Administrative Offices

 

JCHS News and Updates

News items
Missouri to prepare for state bi-centennial
Missouri to prepare for state bi-centennial

The Missouri General Assembly is asking the State Historical Society of Missouri to help plan and coordinate efforts to celebrate Missouri's bi-centennial in 2021.

The legislature approved a resolution says Missouri has a "rich and complex" history and asks the State Historical Society to "develop plans, ideas and proposals" to celebrate the bi-centennial.

Independence celebrates expanded historic district
Independence celebrates expanded historic district

Independence celebrates the expansion of the Truman National Historic Landmark District with a ceremony dedicating a district historic marker.

The expanded district was highlighted in a front page Kansas City Star article discussing the significance of the expansion which includes over 560 properties. of which 455 are "contributing" properties to the district.

Historic Independence home opens new B&B
Historic Independence home opens new B&B

A Civil War-era historic Greek Revival home in Independence recently opened as a bed and breakfast and is getting lots of attention in the local media.

The Big Divide: New book looks at area Civil War sites
The Big Divide: New book looks at area Civil War sites

Local authors Diane Eickhoff and Aaron Barnhart for the past 16 years have been driving back and forth across one of the least visible and most contentious borders in American history: the Missouri-Kansas state line.

Graduate history students write about local history
Graduate history students write about local history

The Missouri Historical Review, in its April issue, lists graduate school history theses related to Missouri history that were completed during 2012. Several titles reflect topics of local and regional interest including the Civil War, Mormon history, J.C. Nichols and African-American Kansas City politics.

Independence celebrates Preservation Month
Independence celebrates Preservation Month

Independence will celebrate May Preservation Month with a full calendar of events.

Events include activities organized by the Truman Library and the National Park Service and include historic homes for sale, bus tours and weekly lunch and learn events.

Independence receives preservation grant

The City of Independence has received a $15,000 preservation grant to survey about 160 late nineteenth to early twentieth century buildings in the North Main Street neighborhood.

Kemper scrapbook index gets digitized
Kemper scrapbook index gets digitized

One of the rich unusual collections held by JCHS are several volumes of scrapbooks about Kansas City banker and civic leader William T. Kemper Sr. and his family.

Hiram Young: Black history month
Hiram Young: Black history month

There is growing interest in Hiram Young - an entrepreneurial African wagoner maker who lived in Independence just prior to the Civil War. Young was a leading business man in the Independence region employing men of all races.

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