Catch a Tour of the Truman Home in Independence

Tours of the Truman Home at 219 North Delaware in Independence resume on Wednesday according to a Facebook post from the Harry S Truman National Historic Site and if you haven't been. You've got to take a tour.

I'll be blunt, for much of my youth and teen years I wasn't much of a history fan. When we toured the Truman Presidental Library in the very early '80s I was too young to appreciate it. That said, as a tween touring the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston I was old enough to appreciate it, I was just being a tween and sulked my way through the experience.

Yet, one of the historic things I really liked was touring the Truman Home in Independence. I wasn't sure if I'd like it, and I'll admit, the tour was just something I had to do because my Mom wanted to do it. And it was standing between me and that evening's Royals game.

That said, just stepping into the home was magical. It was taking a trip back in time to see how home life was. And most interesting, how normal and unassuming it looked for the former President, First Lady, and their family. And that's stuck with me all these years.

According to the National Parks Service, President Truman lived in the Truman Home from his marriage to Bess Wallace in 1919 through his death in 1972. The home was built by Bess' grandfather George Porterfield Gates in 1867.

The Trumans were married on the grounds of the home, and after their honeymoon, Harry and Bess returned to live in the home with Bess' mother and grandmother. Bess' brothers also built homes on the property.

During his presidency Truman used the home as his "Summer White House" and the family returned there often to celebrate holidays and when away from Washington. Harry and Bess didn't officially own the home until the death of Bess' mother in 1952.

After his presidency, Harry and Bess returned to Independence and over several years modernized and remodeled the home.

According to the National Parks Service, here's what you'll experience when touring the Turman Home:

Today, the Truman Home offers a glimpse at the personal life of the 33rd President of the United States. Beautiful in its uncluttered commonness, the Truman Home showcases the simple life the family enjoyed in Independence before and after Harry's years as President.

According to their post, free tickets to tour the Turman Home are required and they're available at the visitor center, 223 North Main Street, and tickets are first come first served. Tours of the Turman Home are conducted Wednesday through Sunday.