Independence Insiders

We caught up with Ralph to hear what he loves most about Independence, the hidden gems he thinks every visitor should discover and why, after decades of calling the area home, he’s still finding new stories to tell.

Visit Independence: Tell us a little about yourself and your connection to Independence.

Ralph Goldsmith: I grew up in the Branson, Missouri, area and moved to Independence in 1970's, right after high school. I’ve spent the rest of my life in the Independence area, so this community has truly become home.

In a way, I went from one tourist destination to another, but Independence is so much more than a tourist town. This is a place whose history helped shape our nation, from the pioneers heading west to the people and events that influenced America from coast to coast. I’ve had the privilege of sharing those stories with visitors for many years, and I never get tired of discovering something new.

VI: What do you love most about Independence?

RG: What I love most about Independence is the stories. Everywhere you turn, there is another story waiting to be told.

You can explore the history of the early settlers and the beginning of the westward trails, learn about Missouri’s complicated Civil War history, and then follow the story of Harry S Truman and how a local Independence man went on to become the 33rd President of the United States.

What makes Independence special is that all of these stories are connected. They aren’t just things you read about in a history book—you can actually stand in many of the places where history happened.

VI: If someone were visiting Independence for the first time, what’s one place you’d tell them they absolutely have to visit?

RG: Of course, the Harry S Truman Presidential Library & Museum and the Harry S Truman National Historic Site are must-see destinations.

But I would also encourage visitors to make time for the 1859 Jail, Marshal's Home & Museum. It is truly a hidden gem.

Walking through the 1859 Jail is like stepping back in time. You can learn about early law enforcement, the people who were held there, and some of the difficult and fascinating history of Independence and Jackson County.

And there is an interesting Truman connection, too. Harry Truman was instrumental in saving the jail from demolition, recognizing the importance of preserving Independence’s history. That little building tells a much bigger story than many visitors expect.

VI: What’s an Independence hidden gem you think more people should know about?

RG: I think one of the biggest hidden gems is the connection between Independence’s early history, the Civil War era, and Harry S Truman.

People sometimes think of Truman’s story as beginning when he became president, but the experiences and history surrounding him in Independence were much deeper than that. Growing up in a community shaped by westward expansion, the Civil War, politics, family, hard work and changing times helped form the world he knew.

Understanding the history of Independence gives you a much better appreciation for the man Truman became and the values that influenced his life.

VI: What’s your favorite attraction, historic site or thing to do in Independence?

RG: I’m partial to the full-city covered wagon tour, because it gives visitors a chance to experience so many pieces of Independence’s history in a unique way.

Instead of simply walking into one historic site and learning about one period of time, you can travel through the city and see how the different stories connect—from the early days of Independence and the westward trails to the Civil War era and the Truman years.

There’s something special about sitting in a mule-drawn covered wagon and hearing these stories while actually traveling through the historic streets where so much of this history unfolded.

VI: What do you think surprises visitors most about Independence?

RG: I think visitors are most surprised by how much has happened here.

Independence may look like a small Midwestern community, but its history reaches far beyond the city itself. The Santa Fe, Oregon and California Trails all played important roles in the community’s history, thousands of pioneers passed through on their way west, the area experienced significant Civil War history, and Independence later became home to one of America’s most influential presidents.

There are so many layers to the story that visitors often leave saying, “I had no idea all of this happened here!”

VI: Finish this sentence: You haven’t really experienced Independence until…

RG: You haven’t really experienced Independence until you’ve immersed yourself in the rich history that surrounds this community.

Don’t just drive through or visit one attraction. Walk the historic square, explore the museums and historic sites, learn about the people who lived here, and take time to understand why Independence became such an important starting point for westward expansion.

Once you start putting all the pieces together, you begin to see Independence in a completely different way.

VI: Anything else you’d like to share?

RG: Independence is a place where the trails began and the buck stopped.

It was the jumping-off point for generations of pioneers heading west, known as the "Queen City of the Trails", and decades later it became the hometown of Harry S Truman, a man who would make some of the biggest decisions in American history. That combination is what makes Independence so special to me. It’s a community where the past is still very much alive, and there are stories around every corner. After all these years, I still enjoy sharing those stories, and I hope visitors leave Independence with a deeper appreciation for the role this community played in shaping our nation.