RENOVATION TIMELINE
The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum reopened in July of 2021 with a new museum entrance and permanent exhibition in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Truman’s ascension to the presidency.
Exhibit fabrication begins with wall treatments and scenic work in the WWII and Postwar World galleries.
The museum lobby is completely enclosed with a glass façade featuring the presidential seal. Inside, the galleries get final coats of paint and carpet.
The roof is added on the new museum entrance and the new gallery walls are prepped for paint.
The renovation team travels to Nashville, Tennessee to review prototypes at the exhibit fabricator’s shop including labels, interactives, and scenic elements.
The walls for the new museum entrance are built while the gallery walls of the new permanent Truman exhibition start to take shape.
Exterior demolition for the new museum entrance is complete. Inside, the new exhibit walls are laid out.
The Thomas Hart Benton mural, Independence and the Opening of the West, is protected as demolition begins on the galleries and new museum entrance.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Archivist of the U.S. David Ferriero, Missouri State Senator John Rizzo, the president’s grandson Clifton Truman Daniel, and Independence Mayor Eileen Weir officially break ground on the construction project.
Artifacts, including the presidential limousine, are placed in storage and exhibits are decommissioned.
The Truman Library closes to the public to prepare for renovations.
The Truman Library and Truman Library Institute announce a $25-million renovation of the Truman Library and share a fly-through video of the plans.