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Free Traveling Guides » States » Missouri » Kansas CityIndependence
Independence, the fourth largest city in the U. S. State of Missouri, is included in the Clay and Jackson County. The City is best known for Santa-Cali-Con Days, an annual Labor Day festival that commemorates the city’s heritage as the starting point of three major trails-the California Trail, the Oregon Trail, and the Santa Fe Trail. This festival is held in Independence since 1973.
A major tourist attraction in the city is the Town Square, situated in the historical center of town. The Square features the old main courthouse, which houses the former courtroom of Harry S Truman; the historic jail that housed the likes of Jesse James; and the popular Farmers’ Market, held on the Northeast side of the square on Saturdays, mid-May through Mid-September. Independence was established on March 29, 1827 and it soon became a significant frontier town and the main center for the emerging fur trade. The two battles that greatly influenced the economy of the city during the Civil war included the one fought on August 11, 1862 when confederate troops captured the town; and the other fought in October 1864.
President Harry S. Truman was elected judge of the County Court of Jackson County, Missouri in 1922. He won national acclaim for his public works projects, including a series of 12 Madonna of the Trail monuments. The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum and the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site are places truly worth a visit in Independence. The magnificent Independence Temple, built by the Community of Christ, is yet another point of tourist interest in the city.
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