The Jackson County Courthouse, also known as the Truman Courthouse, is a historic courthouse in

Independence, Missouri Independence is the fifth-largest city in Missouri and the county seat of Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson County. Independence is a satellite city of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the largest suburb on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metro ...

. In 1922, Harry S. Truman won election as county judge for eastern Jackson County as a candidate of the

Tom Pendergast Thomas Joseph Pendergast (July 22, 1872 – January 26, 1945), also known as T. J. Pendergast, was an American political boss who controlled Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri, from 1925 to 1939. Pendergast only briefly held elected ...

faction of the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

. He failed to be re-elected in 1924, but, then won election as presiding judge in 1926. Truman served in this position in effect as county commissioner for eight years. He divided his time between the two Jackson County courthouses; this one in Independence, and the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City. (Truman later had an office in the Kansas City courthouse during most of his first term as

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

from 1935 to 1939.) No county offices are currently in the building. The county offices have moved a few blocks away to the Independence Courthouse Annex, located at 308 W. Kansas. The Jackson County Historical Society office and archives are housed in the building. It underwent a massive renovation to restore President Truman's office and courtroom, and to fix major structural issues. The courthouse grounds include statues of Presidents Harry S. Truman and

Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was an American lawyer, planter, general, and statesman who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before being elected to the presidency, he gained fame as ...

, and historical markers and monuments commemorate pioneers, the Civil War, and the trails heading west – Santa Fe,

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

and

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

trails – that marked the Independence Square as their starting point.

Jackson County Historical Society

The courthouse is now the home of the Jackson County Historical Society. The Society's facilities include a History Center, an Archives and Research Center that is available by appointment, a museum of art, and

Harry S Truman Office and Courtroom The Harry S. Truman Office and Courtroom was the office used by Harry S. Truman during his early political years. It is located in the Jackson County Courthouse in Independence, Missouri. History The Office used by Truman is available for tours b ...

that is available for guided tours.

References

External links

Truman Courthouse
– Jackson County Historical Society Colonial Revival architecture in Missouri Government buildings completed in 1836 County courthouses in Missouri Buildings and structures in Independence, Missouri Courthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Missouri Tourist attractions in Jackson County, Missouri National Register of Historic Places in Jackson County, Missouri {{JacksonCountyMO-NRHP-stub