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Join us at the Truman Library for a panel conversation on the civic power and possibilities, as well as potential pitfalls, of finding common cause. Panelists will discuss the challenges and triumphs of the American Revolution and early United States, revealing how a democracy was born through disagreement, coalition-building, and a commitment to shared values.

We’ll reflect on the compelling, yet often hard, group work of democracy. This was famously true for our second and third presidents, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson—leaders who were both allies and bitter, partisan rivals. There’s much to unpack and learn from this particular founding-era relationship.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Dr. Kurt Graham joined the Adams Presidential Center as its inaugural president on October 15, 2024. Previous to joining the APC, Graham was the Director of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum in Independence, Missouri. As director, he oversaw a $30M renovation of the principal museum exhibits and dramatically expanded the Library’s educational and public programming. He has also directed the McCracken Research Library at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, and the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City. Prior to his work in the public history field, Graham was a member of the history faculty at California State University, San Bernardino, where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses in American political and legal/constitutional history. He has a Ph.D. in American history from Brown University and a B.A. and an M.A. from Brigham Young University in English and American studies, respectively. He is the author of To Bring Law Home: The Federal Judiciary in Early National Rhode Island (Northern Illinois University Press, 2010).

Steve Light has worked at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello for over twelve years and currently serves as Vice President for Education and Guest Experience. In this role, he leads Monticello’s education and interpretation initiatives, exhibition development, and guest-facing departments. During his time at Monticello, Light has helped shape Monticello’s highly regarded training curriculum for frontline interpreters and many of the historic site’s signature tour experiences, such as Founding Friends, Founding Foes. Before joining Monticello in 2013, he worked as Manager of Museum Programs at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. He earned a B.A. in history from Gettysburg College, with a minor in Civil War Era studies, and an M.A. in history museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program. He is also a graduate of the History Leadership Institute, organized by the American Association for State and Local History.

This free public program is presented by the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum. Advance registration is recommended; seating is limited.

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Join us for the Truman Medal for Economic Policy Award Ceremony honoring Sheila Bair, former chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

A nationally recognized leader in financial regulation and public service, Bair has held multiple senior leadership positions in government, academia and the private sector.

She is renowned for protecting Main Street during the 2008 financial crisis. As Chair of the FDIC from 2006 to 2011, she championed accountability for “too big to fail” institutions and earned the JFK Library’s Profiles in Courage Award. She was twice named by Forbes Magazine as the second most powerful woman in the world. Time Magazine called her the “little guy’s protector in chief.”

Bair later served as the first female President of Washington College and became the first female Chair of Fannie Mae. She has served on several corporate and advisory boards, while continuing her work on public policy issues as founding chair of the Systemic Risk Council and a founding board member of the Volcker Alliance. She is also a trustee of Economists for Peace and Security.

A respected voice on financial policy issues, Sheila is a frequent op-ed contributor for the Financial Times and other publications. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Bull by the Horns, her memoir of the financial crisis, and its companion for teens, Bullies of Wall Street.

The Truman Medal for Economic Policy is awarded biennially in a highly anticipated public program, jointly sponsored by the Truman Library Institute, the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, the Economic Club of Kansas City, and the Missouri Council on Economic Education.

Registration opens August 1, 2026.

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As America approaches its 250th birthday, The Story of Us: America at 250 explores the ideals, conflicts and defining moments that shaped the nation.

Through historic documents, iconic artifacts and interactive exhibits for all ages, visitors can experience 250 years of American history in an engaging and thought-provoking way.

Don’t miss: My Wish for America, an interactive community talk-back station where visitors can share their hopes for the country’s future.

From sandlots to stadiums, First Families to your family, experience an all-new, all-star exhibition celebrating the sporting spirit.

As Kansas City welcomes the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum invites you to explore United We Play: Kicking It with the Trumans—a new exhibition showcasing the power of sports to inspire and unite us.

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Join Angie Allison, White House Decision Center Facilitator and Curriculum Specialist, on September 22 at 4 p.m. for a free online National History Day workshop.

Drawing on more than a decade of experience taking students to NHD—including 11 state finalists and 8 national qualifiers—Angie will share practical strategies to make National History Day workable at every level, from first-time participants to returning competitors.

Grounded in the 2027 NHD theme, “Innovation in History: Impact, Influence, Change,” this session will equip you with theme-aligned topic ideas, classroom-ready tools, and time-saving tips so your students can shine at every competition level.

Register Today for the Online Opportunity!

Zoom link will be emailed the week before the workshop. 

Angie Allison
Curriculum Specialist and White House Decision Center Facilitator
Email Angie Allison

Join Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and the Adams Presidential Center at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum for a special America250 professional development opportunity.

In this workshop, titled Founding Friends, Founding Foes, all three presidential institutions will explore complicated civic friendships whose discourse and partnerships defined American policies. Teachers will analyze the relationship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, from their alliance in 1776 to their bitter political rivalry and late-in-life friendship. Fast forward to another chapter in our 250-year history to examine how President Truman’s complex relationships with cabinet members and military leaders led to the expansion of American foreign policy.

Teachers will consider how these relationships can inspire students to engage in civil discourse and friendships today, while leaving with strategies and resources to implement immediately in the classroom.

This workshop is free and open to all current educators. Lunch and Museum admission are included. Space is limited.

The first 12 registrants (must be from Missouri or Kansas) will receive a $75 stipend to support substitute funding, graciously provided by Missouri Council for History Education and Kansas Council for History Education.

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Get up close with rarely viewed presidential treasures preserved at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum. Included with museum admission, White Glove Wednesday presentations are offered every third Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Please note: No presentation is scheduled for April. White Glove Wednesdays will resume May 20, 2026.

PLAN YOUR MUSEUM VISIT

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 2026 events!

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