Palmer House

This is a private home that was owned by the Palmer family when the Wallace and Truman families were growing up in Independence, Missouri. The home was built in the 1890s and William L. C. Palmer owned it with his wife Ardelia. Palmer was the Superintendent of Independence Schools and Ardelia was a schoolteacher, both of whom taught the Truman and Wallace children.

Listen to the audio clip above to hear about how Harry S. Truman prodded his daughter, Margaret, about her studies!

While you cannot go inside, you can appreciate the beautiful Queen Anne frame house construction and learn more about Harry S. Truman's thoughts on education, especially within his own home. Truman was adamant that his only child, his daughter, Margaret, receive the best possible education and regularly checked up on her progress while he was away from home through letters.

The Palmer family lived in this home for over one hundred years until it was closed for substantial updates and renovations. It is now a private family home and not open for visitors. This street has many homes marked for historic reasons, because they belonged to a family known in the Trumans' circle. You can see a complete list in the City of Independence's Truman Walking Tour, linked below.

Truman, Harry S. Letters Home: By Harry Truman. Edited by Monte M. Poen. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 2003.  

“Harry S. Truman Library.” Harry S. Truman. Accessed May 3, 2022. https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/student-resources/places/independence/harry-s-truman-library.