Truman Library Institute
This Juneteenth, we're reflecting on the constitutional act that made freedom permanent.
The 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865 — and ratified by three-fourths of the states on December 6, 1865, following the Civil War's end. President Lincoln signed the Joint Resolution proposing it as a show of support, even though the Constitution didn't require presidential approval. He would not live to see it enacted.
The 13th was the first of three Reconstruction Amendments that fundamentally reshaped American citizenship — alongside the 14th and 15th Amendments, it laid the constitutional foundation for civil rights in this country.
Nearly a century later, President Truman stood before the NAACP — the first sitting president to do so — and named that legacy directly: "When past difficulties faced our Nation, we met the challenge with inspiring charters of human rights — the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Emancipation Proclamation."
That tradition of confronting hard truths and expanding the promise of American democracy is at the heart of what we do at the Truman Library Institute. The Senate draft of the resolution proposing the 13th Amendment is currently on view at the Library.
06/17/2026
in 1948, President Truman rolled into East St. Louis, Illinois and Indianapolis, Indiana as part of his legendary whistle-stop campaign tour across the country. The crowds that turned out to see him were enormous — and the momentum was building.
Swipe to see the sea of people who packed the Indianapolis station to catch a glimpse of their president. 🚂
06/14/2026
Flag Day has a Truman connection — and today marks its 77th anniversary.
On August 3, 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed the Congressional Resolution officially designating June 14 as Flag Day each year. It was a fitting act for a president who understood what the Stars and Stripes demanded of those who served beneath it.
The flag itself turns 249 today — born June 14, 1777. And while Flag Day isn’t a federal holiday, it remains a moment to pause and reflect on what that banner has meant across nearly 250 years of American history.
To all who have served it, honored it, and carried it forward — thank you. 🇺🇸
TrumanLibraryInstitute
06/11/2026
This Saturday, June 13, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum is celebrating Flag Day — and you're invited! 🇺🇸
Join us for a free community event on the museum grounds with something for everyone:
🚗 9 a.m. — Model T Car Show, presented by KC Chuggers
🎷 10 a.m. — Live jazz with the Grammy-nominated Jim Mair Trio
🪄 10 a.m. — Magic by Johnny "Aces" Holiday
Flag Day marks the anniversary of June 14, 1777, when the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as our national flag. The day holds special significance here — in 1949, President Truman himself signed the legislation making Flag Day an official national observance.
This event is free and open to the public. (Museum admission is not included.) Come celebrate the flag — and the president who made sure we'd never forget it.
📍 Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum
500 West 24 Highway, Independence, Missouri
Plan your visit: https://ow.ly/n4hF50ZaFLH
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