Mural painting and decoration

Thomas Hart Benton at work on his mural in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. The mural is entitled "Independence and the Opening of the West."

Thomas Hart Benton reaches to paint a figure on his mural in the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Artist Thomas Hart Benton works on his mural, entitled "Independence and the Opening of the West," in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library.

Thomas Hart Benton (in shadows on right) paints his mural in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Thomas Hart Benton stands atop scaffolding to reach the top corner of his mural, "Independence and the Opening of the West," in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Thomas Hart Benton stands atop scaffolding to work on the top right-hand corner of his mural in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Work on the Thomas Hart Benton mural continues in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Scaffolding is ready for artist Thomas Hart Benton to continue painting the mural in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

A black and white copy of a color sketch of Thomas Hart Benton's mural.

Harry Kenagy (center) showing two Rotary Club foreign exchange students, Hanako Kawatsu of Japan and Soon Ae Park of Korea, the mural being painted in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library by Thomas Hart Benton.