Old and New – September 1, 2018

We had a 1/2 day left in Kansas City, and we spent it in the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.  We have been to several other Presidential Libraries and wanted to compare but also get a better sense of why he made some of the decisions he made.  Like most people, I agreed with some of his decisions and disagreed with others.  I guess there are no perfect Presidents because there are no perfect people.

Mural in lobby of Truman Museum

Some memorable moments for me included:

When called to the White House by Eleanor Roosevelt and told the President was dead, Harry asked her if there was anything he could do for her.  Her response was typical, Eleanor, “You’re the one who is in trouble now”.

The revelation that his early political career was initiated and supported by the Kansas City Democratic political machine and those bosses were largely responsible for him being elected a Senator.  While in office, one of those bosses was sent to prison.  I guess politics has a long history of being slimy.

We dropped the first Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima but Russia dropped the second on Nagasaki.  I always thought we dropped both.  I guess I wasn’t listening carefully that day in history class.

The museum has a replica of his Oval Office, just like other Libraries, along with explanations of all the decisions and events happening in his administration which takes in the postwar era in the U.S., the Cold War, Recognition of Israel, his re-election, sending troops to Korea, investigation into domestic communists, and turning over the Presidency to Eisenhower.

Harry, Bess, Margaret and her husband are all buried in the courtyard.

After lunch we left for Columbia, MO to visit with our new friends we met on our Alaska trip, Joe and Debbie Shryock.  

Joe’s family has been farming there for over 100 years and he and his son and his brother continue to farm 4,000 acres of corn and soybeans using modern techniques his grandfather would find amazing.  They were kind enough to give us a tour of the farm and explain just how much is involved in what they do.  

Combines used in harvesting corn and soybeans

Fertilizer sprayer – Mg standing by wheel to show you the size of the equipment

In addition the farm operation, they began a Fall Corn Maze in 2002 and it has grown to be almost as spectacular as their farm operation.  This is an aerial picture of the 2018 maze on the postcard they send out.

18 acres is the size of the Maze

Look at the intricate design that encompasses 18 acres and involves over 4 miles of trails.  Each year the event gets bigger and better and has grown to include hayrides, bonfires complete with hot dog cooking, an amazing gumball machine that sends the ball over a long trip to the ceiling and back on tracks and pulleys.  They’ve also included a 40 foot tube slide and corn pit and so much more I can’t remember.  If we lived closer, I would have to come each year, no joke.  It looks like so much fun.  We were impressed to say the least.

It was wonderful to spend time with these new friends and we hope to be able to spend time together again before too long.

Sunset on the farm