The white 14-room Victorian home at 219 North Delaware Street was home to the 33rd President of the United States from 1919 to his death. Built by the maternal grandfather of Bess Wallace Truman and known as the "Summer White House" during the Truman Administration, the Harry S. Truman Home National Historic Site details how this down-to-earth man lived.

Guided tours through President Truman's home reveal furnishings and personal possessions of the President, with much of it remaining just as he left it. Browse through his private library and phonograph record collection. Look at family photographs, clothing and Mr. Truman's last automobile.

Tours begin every 15 minutes, and are limited to eight persons. Each person must obtain a ticket at the Truman ticket center (Truman Road and Main Street). Tickets are issued for the day of the tour on a first come, first served basis. During the summer, a day's tours are often booked by noon. So we suggest that guests arrive early in the day, even if you want to tour in the afternoon. Advance reservations are not accepted. Tickets are $4 for adults, free for those 16 and younger.

For ideas on what to give a President, visit the Truman Presidential Library. You'll find numerous gifts that President Truman received from foreign heads of state as well as presents from American citizens from all walks of life! You'll also find 14 million pages of papers, books, and other historical materials relating to former President Harry S. Truman.

President Truman wanted a "Library that will belong to the people of the United States. My papers will be the property of the people and be accessible to them. And this is as it should be. The papers of the Presidents are among the most valuable sources of material for history. They ought to be preserved, and they ought to be used." And used they are! Tens of thousands of people visit the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum each year.

Built entirely with private funds and covering nearly 100,000 square feet, the library contains stack areas for manuscripts, books and audiovisual materials, a research room, staff offices, an auditorium, conference and seminar rooms and museum exhibit areas.

The core of the library's research holdings, which is available to all researchers on an equal basis, consists of Truman's White House files, but it also includes papers about his personal life as farmer, soldier, businessman, local politician, US Senator, Vice President and President.

The museum part of the library details the remarkable events of Truman's life and Presidency. On permanent display is the table on which the United Nations Charter was signed, an exact full-scale replica of the Oval Office as it appeared during the Truman administration, the office which Truman used in his retirement years, and of course, his famous "The Buck Stops Here" plaque!

A documentary film on Truman's life by Academy Award-winning director Charles Guggenheim, and the grave sites of President and Mrs. Truman will round out your day at one of only 10 Presidential Libraries in the country.

The museum is open Mon-Sat from 9 am to 5 pm (with extended hours until 9 pm on Thursdays), and noon to 5 pm on Sundays. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $3 for children ages 6-18 and free for children under six. (The Research Room is open Mon-Fri: 8:45 am to 4:45 pm) For more information, contact the Library at Harry S. Truman Library, US Highway 24 and Delaware Street, Independence, Missouri 64050-1798. 1-800-833-1225 or 816-268-8200. FAX (816) 833-4368. E-mail: library@truman.nara.gov.

As is true of all historical cities, the old town square is the heart of the community. And Independence Square is the place for unique shopping, antique-hunting and historic dining. Visit the courtroom that started Harry's political career when he served as a County Judge, and retrace the route taken by Mr. Truman on one of his morning neighborhood walks. For more information on the Independence Square call (816) 252-0608.