Independence,Missouri is home to three National Historic Trails. We followed a chunk of the Santa Fe Trail today. ๐ท๏ธ26.05A



The most important stop of the day was the Harry S Truman National Historic Site, the primary target of the entire trip. Itโs been an orphaned National Park unit for Jen for years, so it was good to finally get it done. We also stopped at his nearby boyhood home. ๐ท๏ธ26.05A




Made a quick stop at Fort Osage, one of the first U.S. outposts in the Louisiana Purchase territory. ๐ท๏ธ26.05A



We e-signed the paperwork for our new Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid tonight! Can’t wait to pick it up in a few days.
Taking aim at the courts ๐ท๏ธ26.05A


This building served as the home office of the famed Pony Express. ๐ท๏ธ26.05A


We visited the Gen John J Pershing Boyhood Home State Historic Site. The home is closed for renovations, the schoolhouse had closed for the day too, but we did get to tour the museum, which was better than expected. ๐ท๏ธ26.05A




The best thingโฆ ๐ท๏ธ26.05A






Iowa is still learning what a food truck is. ๐ท๏ธ26.05A
We stopped by the site of the Icarian Colony, the longest running non-religious utopian project in America. ๐ท๏ธ26.05A


Marked off another on Jenโs MLB Ballpark quest.


โBoob guysโ exiting en masse ๐ท๏ธ26.05A
Coffee and tea ๐ท๏ธ26.05A



Stopped at another Freedom Rock. Itโs actually part of a much larger project, one for each of Iowaโs 99 counties. Sounds like a fun quest if you live in Iowa. ๐ท๏ธ26.05A





Beetle spider and frensโฆ ๐ท๏ธ26.05A



Freedom Rock ๐ท๏ธ26.05A






โAll the aboveโ is probably the right call for a hotel breakfast area tv. Surprised I donโt see this more often.
Birthday beer stop for Jen. ๐ท๏ธ26.05A


May the friendly highway barn smile upon you too. ๐ท๏ธ26.05A
A few shots from various stops today along the St Croix National Scenic Riverway, Jenโs 396th National Park unit (and apparently my 244th park unit Iโve revisited). Not a bad way to celebrate Jenโs birthday ๐ท๏ธ26.05A




