Original 1971 versus Expanded 2011 Historic District Boundaries and Acreage

Harry S Truman Historic District National Historic Landmark is a unique type of historic landmark. Most historic landmarks are individual buildings, sites, or objects such as telescopes, submarines, or railroad cars, that are significant due to their association with important persons or events, or because of their architectural features. Historic districts, however, are localities that contain several features that, while none may be individually important, collectively create an area that is of national significance. Most historic districts are significant due to their association with important events or the architecture of the features. In rare cases, however, they are significant due to their association with a person. This is the case with Harry S Truman Historic District, which is significance because of its relationship with Harry S Truman, the 33rd President of the United States (1945-1953). It was the first historic district national historic landmark established which derived its significance from its association to an individual.

The original 1971 boundaries omitted several sites that were significant in the Truman story, so the district was expanded 40 years later in 2011.