Presidents, an outlaw and great ribs!!!! - all before we left Kansas and Missouri. On our way we stopped in Abilene, Kansas at the Eisenhower presidential museum and library. Being the Commander of the allied forces during WW II, there is a lot to see as you walk through various exhibits of his years in military service and as president.

entrance of museum

upgrading infrastructure

 

Main Street Wichita - Thumper and Ike

 

When we reached Missouri, we got a campsite in Peculiar, Missouri (no joke - that's the name of the town), which is about 15 miles outside of Kansas City, MO. The next day we drove to Independence and the presidential museum of Harry S. Truman. Another walk through WWII and his policies re: economic recovery, NATO, and Korea, and relieving Gen. McArthur of his command. They are both excellent museums and if you are in the area, please visit them. 

Skip outside museum

Truman presidential office

Pres. Truman letter to Gen. McArthur

 On a lighter note, we went to dinner that night at Jack Stack Barbecue, which was recommended by one of the ladies in the campground.  Food was terrific as well as the service. In fact, we ended up dining there 2 nights in a row. Even during the week, the restaurant is crowded.

Jack Stack's onion rings!!! HUGE!!!

 On our final day, we drove to St. Joseph, Missouri to see the house that Jessie James lived in with his family and subsequently gunned down by Bob Ford. The bullet hole is visible in the wall.  Another piece of American history.

 Jesse James home

living room

bullet hole beneath needlepoint

  We are heading to Granite City, Illinois. The KOA Campground we are going to is the nearest to my niece, Meghan and her husband, Brent. We are also right over the Mississippi River from St. Louis. Meghan promised to take us see the Clydesdale horses at Anheuser-Busch and go up the Arch. Can't wait.