The painting was commissioned by David Lloyd, the executive director of the Harry S. Truman Library, Inc. Benton was at the time out of favor among the art institutions, but still well known as a mural painter.[1] When offered the job, he was immediately drawn to the subject because of Independence's place in American folklore, as the last city before the frontier.[2]
A detail from the painting is featured on a stamp issued by the United States Post Office Department in 1971 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Missouri's statehood.[3]