The Independence Square Association is committed to promoting an attractive and financially stable downtown while preserving our historic resources and enriching the community. Historic downtowns thrive when they are able to preserve the past, help tell the story of those who came before us, but also create a contemporary use of the buildings and spaces.
Today the Independence Square is an exciting area to live, work, shop, dine, play and discover. Over 100 small, locally owned businesses call us their home. Over 1,500 employees earn their livelihoods in our district. We are home to federal, state, county, and city employees. Our offices house a variety of professional organizations from non-profits to financial to entrepreneurial start-ups. Unique restaurants, cafes, and one-of-a-kind shops fill our district. Discover the Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a beautifully designed bowling and billiards hall, a first-run theatre, a brewery, and a winery in addition to museums and historic sites dating back to 1827.
We are also where our city began, the birthplace of the trails west, the walking path of President Truman, the gathering place of religious communities. We take pride in our role as caretakers of those spaces and as a place-making space for city festivals, parades, farmers markets, and cultural events. We will continue to ensure that this historic area is relevant for what is and what it is yet to be.
