Institute Sponsored Events
WILD ABOUT HARRY
Kansas City Marriott Downtown
Muehlebach Tower, Imperial Ballroom
HONORARY CHAIRS
Carla & Danny O’Neill
EVENT CHAIRS
Polly & Jeffrey Kramer, M.D.
Bridget McCandless, M.D. & Dennis Taylor
Save the date for WILD ABOUT HARRY!, the premier fundraising event benefiting Harry S. Truman’s presidential library and legacy.
Held at the historic Muehlebach Hotel—President Truman’s hometown political headquarters—WILD ABOUT HARRY! attracts nearly 800 guests annually and features exciting sponsor benefits, a Sponsors’ Happy Hour Kick-Off, VIP Patrons’ Party, Underwriters’ Reception, Social Hour with open bar, live music, a chef-curated three course dinner and much more.
Whether you love history, love Harry, or just love a great party, you won’t want to miss WILD ABOUT HARRY!
Truman Library Presents
Harry’s Hop ‘n’ Hunt
10 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum, South Lawn
500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, Missouri
The White House-style Egg Roll Returns to Harry’s hometown!
Since 1878 American Presidents and their families have commemorated Easter by hosting an egg roll on the South Lawn of the White House. The cherished tradition lives on at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum with Harry’s Hop ‘n Hunt.
Join us on Saturday, April 12, for a morning of family fun, including a White House-style egg roll race, egg hunts, face painting, a visit by KC Wolf and more. The event will be held rain or shine and is free and open to the public.
- 10:00 a.m. – Welcome: Mayor Rowland
- 10:30 a.m. – Egg Hunt #1*
- 11:15 a.m. – Egg Hunt #2*
All are welcome to this free day of family fun at the Truman Library, co presented with the Truman Library Institute, City of Independence, and the Independence Square Association. Registration is requested but not required.
For more information, please contact Azalea Michel-Whitley at azalea.michelwhitley@nara.gov.
*Children 12 and younger; please bring your own egg baskets. For the safety of all, eggs used in the Egg Hunt are unfilled. Every participant will receive a goody bag after completing the hunt.
Harry S. Truman’s 141st Birthday and President’s Wreath-Laying Ceremony
9-10 a.m. – Wreath Laying Ceremony
ALL DAY – Free Museum Admission
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
A National Tradition
To commemorate Harry S. Truman’s 141st birthday on Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum will host the annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the President’s Tomb. This event continues the long-standing tradition of the United States presidency, where the incumbent commander-in-chief sends a tribute wreath on the birthday of each deceased President. The wreath is presented by a military officer and placed at the President’s tomb.
9 a.m. | President’s Wreath-Laying Ceremony
Celebrate Harry S. Truman’s 141st birthday with a Presidential Wreath-Laying Ceremony. Held at the gravesite of President Truman and Mrs. Bess Wallace Truman, this Military ceremony includes a Color Guard, Prayer, remarks about President Truman’s life and service, the playing of TAPS, and laying an official wreath from The White House.
10 a.m. | American Legion
Following the President’s wreath-laying, representatives from American Legion posts from multiple states will lay their wreaths in a patriotic ceremony with live music by band members.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Museum Admission
Museum admission is waived from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to celebrate President Truman’s Birthday!
National Moment of Remembrance and Taps
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum, Courtyard
500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, Missouri
Regional Workshop (K-12)
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, MO
THE PROMISE OF AMERICA
Applications are open for a regional teacher workshop at the Truman Library, hosted in partnership with Ford’s Theater. Local teachers are encouraged to apply for this free oratory-based professional workshop for K-12 teachers. Join colleagues and museum educators to explore how two iconic leaders—Harry Truman and Abraham Lincoln—navigated unprecedented national crises and left lasting legacies. This three-day workshop offers educators the opportunity to engage with primary sources, scholarly insights, public speaking and theater arts-integrated strategies that will enrich classroom discourse and teaching on presidential
Summer Teacher Conference
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
500 West U.S. Highway 24, Independence, MO
EXPLORING THE PRESIDENCY FROM THE 18TH TO 20TH CENTURIES
Applications open January 6, 2025, for the Truman Library’s annual Summer Teacher Conference.
Join us for a collaborative, immersive five-day professional development workshop designed to help teachers create a deeper understanding of the president’s role within a democracy, strengthen classroom best practices, and connect historical relevance to student learning. This week-long workshop is open to K-12 teachers nationwide. The Truman Library’s nationally recognized educators will be joined by scholars from other presidential sites, including Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, and the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library.
Your TRU Event
TRUMAN SPEAKERS BUREAU
A free public service to our community
Book one of our dynamic speakers to create a captivating and informative program for your next meeting! Engage audiences with Truman-era presentations designed to spark conversations, inspire insights, and entertain. Presentations are intended for adult groups of 20 or more, and speakers are limited to a one-hour radius from Kansas City.
Now booking 2025 events!