Harry S Truman National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Missouri. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Harry S Truman the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:36 AM | 8:17 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:20 PM | 243° | 9h 44m |
| February | 7:10 AM | 7:48 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:56 PM | 255° | 10h 45m |
| March | 7:30 AM | 8:06 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:25 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:42 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:55 PM | 284° | 13h 13m |
| May | 6:06 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:24 PM | 296° | 14h 18m |
| June | 5:53 AM | 6:33 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:46 PM | 302° | 14h 53m |
| July | 6:06 AM | 6:45 AM | 8:05 PM | 8:44 PM | 299° | 14h 38m |
| August | 6:32 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:15 PM | 289° | 13h 42m |
| September | 7:00 AM | 7:35 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:28 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:28 AM | 8:04 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:41 PM | 260° | 11h 13m |
| November | 7:02 AM | 7:41 AM | 4:26 PM | 5:06 PM | 247° | 10h 04m |
| December | 7:30 AM | 8:12 AM | 4:16 PM | 4:58 PM | 240° | 9h 27m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.9271, -94.5162); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Harry S Truman, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:25 AM – 5:35 AM | 0.2 | 12° |
| March | 4:34 AM – 5:54 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:30 AM – 5:00 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:32 AM – 4:12 AM | 3.7 | 22° |
| June | 10:45 PM – 3:45 AM | 5.0 | 22° |
| July | 10:38 PM – 2:28 AM | 3.8 | 22° |
| August | 9:54 PM – 12:24 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:59 PM – 10:19 PM | 1.3 | 19° |
| October | 8:10 PM – 8:20 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
Located on the western edge of Missouri, the park enjoys each of the four seasons. Early spring brings frequent and rapid fluctuations in weather. The summer season has warm days, periods of high heat and humidity, and mild nights. The fall season is normally mild with sunny days and cool nights. Winters can be cold. The January low averages 21 degrees. The area receives a yearly average of 37 inches of rain per year and around 18 inches of snow. Our zip code is 64050 if you wish to go to www.weather.gov
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (62%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
The Visitor Center is located at 223 North Main Street. From the north or south, take I-435 to Truman Road (State Hwy 12), exit 60. Travel east on Truman Road three miles; you'll pass the Truman Home at Delaware Street. From the east or west, take I-70 to the Noland Road exit (12). Travel north on Noland Road four miles to Truman Road. Turn west on Truman Road and travel two blocks. The Truman Home is five blocks to the west of the visitor center.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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