The White House Decision Center is a unique venue for experiential and collaborative learning. Set in a recreated West Wing, The White House Decision Center challenges students to step into the roles of President Truman and his advisors to tackle some of the greatest challenges ever faced by a world leader. The White House Decision Center is designed to complement a rigorous course of study and to meet national standards for grades 6-12.

School group visits are arranged for groups of 15 or more students in grades three and up. We encourage guided tours for students which are led by a trained docent but non-guided tours are also a possibility.

Please allow 1 ¼ hours for the tour

Our federal government has three parts. They are the Executive, (President and about 5,000,000 workers) Legislative (Senate and House of Representatives) and Judicial (Supreme Court and lower Courts). This online activity explores all three in a fun and engaging way.

Historians practice their craft by asking questions about the past, then search for evidence to construct the best answer possible. Similarly we learn history best by asking questions about the past, going to the original sources of history and evaluating what they tell us. The lessons included on this site do just that. They pose a question connected to Truman’s time as president then direct the learner to carefully consider what the evidence reveals.

More than 400 lesson plans created by teachers who have attended classes, seminars and conferences at the Truman Library. Most use primary sources and very user friendly.

Online documents from the Truman Library arranged by topic. More than 50,000 primary sources for teachers and students to use in their classrooms.

National History Day is a year-long academic program focused on historical research, interpretation and creative expression for 6th- to 12th-grade students. By participating in NHD, students become writers, filmmakers, web designers, playwrights and artists as they create unique contemporary expressions of history. The experience culminates in a series of contests at the local and affiliate levels and an annual national competition in the nation's capital in June.

An independent study from 2011 found that participation in the National History Day Contest benefits students far beyond the competition. National History Day not only transports classrooms back in time during the school year, it transforms young minds forever.