12 seconds ago 2009-12-04T03:40:03-08:00
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The new Midwest Genealogy Center, billed as one of the nation's largest libraries for people tracing their ancestry, has opened in this historic Missouri town.
The 52,000-square-foot building replaces a facility one-quarter its size.
Among genealogists, the Mormon church's Family History Library in Salt Lake City is considered the mother lode of information, with millions of documents available online or through local branches.
The next tier is occupied by public libraries in Dallas, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Ft. Wayne, Ind. and Independence — a one-time frontier town known as the jumping off spot for westward expansion.
The library regularly attracts visitors from as far afield as Hawaii, with those conducting more extensive research staying in local hotels.
One aspect of the genealogy library hasn't changed: Unlike many similar collections, almost all of the plat maps, census records, marriage licenses and other documents are accessible directly by the public, not locked away in storage.
While you're in town, other attractions worth seeing in Independence include the Truman Presidential Museum & Library; the 1827 Log Courthouse, which for 40 years was the last courthouse between Independence and the Pacific Ocean; the Mormon Visitors Center; a skate park; the Pioneer Spring Cabin, and Independence Square, where you'll find restaurants, antiques and specialty stores.
Details and packages at http://www.visitindependence.com/. For information on the library, visit http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/genlh/mgc.htm.
