A National Tradition

To commemorate Harry S. Truman’s 140th birthday on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the Harry S. Truman Library and 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 140th 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.

ALL DAY | Free Museum Admission

Museum admission is waived from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to celebrate President Truman’s Birthday!

MEMBER RSVP

Embark on a captivating journey through Theodore Roosevelt’s life and loves as author Edward F. O’Keefe joins esteemed historian Candice Millard for an enlightening discussion on O’Keefe’s latest literary triumph, The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt. In this exclusive event, O’Keefe meticulously chronicles Roosevelt’s romantic entanglements against the backdrop of a rapidly changing America, from his poignant courtship with his first wife, Alice Hathaway Lee, to his enduring love affair with his second wife, Edith Kermit Carow. Through letters, diaries, and historical accounts, O’Keefe paints a vivid portrait of Roosevelt’s private life, revealing its profound impact on his public persona and political career, while Millard provides invaluable context and perspective on Roosevelt’s era and the individuals who shaped it. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to delve into Theodore Roosevelt’s life and legacies with two master storytellers, offering fresh insights into the human side of a larger-than-life figure.

FREE RSVP NOW! Choose In-Person or Livestream

JUST EXTENDED!

The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum proudly presents Rooted among the Ashes: Hibakujumoku / A-bombed Trees, featuring the photography of Katy McCormick. Having explored Japan’s two Atomic-bombed cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, McCormick’s photography portrays the survivor trees or hibakujumoku, subjected to the first use of Atomic bombs in 1945. Standing in school yards, temple grounds, and city squares, the A-bombed trees are living memorials, rooted among the ashes just below the surfaces of now-thriving cities. Predicated on “walking and remembrance,” the exhibition invites a promenade through space and time, memory and history, urging reflection upon how the past haunts the present—warning, teaching, urging care.

This special exhibition has been extended through April 30, 2024 and is included with general admission. Truman Library Institute Members enjoy free admission.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Join the National Archives for Civic Learning Week!

Students will explore the First Amendment freedoms from the Bill of Rights in this interactive and engaging civics program based on historical primary sources from the National Archives. Students will learn about the importance of First Amendment rights, identify examples in photographs and short written documents, and discover how to exercise those freedoms.

After registering, you will receive the Zoom connection information via email the week of the event. Participants’ cameras and microphones will be off, and participant comments will be shared only with presenters to ensure a student-friendly environment.

Thursday, March 14, 2024: 1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Friday, April 19, 2024: 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024: 1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

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