The Ginger House and heavily involved in the theater, Ginger went on to become a Broadway star at the age of 19, and shortly after, a Hollywood film actress. She is perhaps best known for the nine films she made with Fred Astaire, but she was a huge star before they began working together and making dance films. Ginger visited her hometown several times during her lifetime. In 1942, she visited the home during an interview with LIFE magazine. In 1964, President Harry Truman declared July 16 to be "Ginger Roger's Day," Ginger again visited the home in 1972 when she was in
The Ginger House Kansas City to perform [[Tovarich (musical) at [[Starlight Theatre (Kansas City, Missouri)|Starlight Theater]]. On July 16, 1994 the [[City of Independence]] hosted Ginger Roger's Day with a parade, book signing, a film festival, luncheon, and dinner. Ginger was presented with a key to the city by Mayor Ron Stewart. The house was declared an [[Historic Landmark Property]] by the [[City of Independence]] in 1994. Mayor Stewart affixed the plaque to the exterior of the house during Ginger's visit. This was one of [[Ginger Rogers]]' last public appearances before her death in April 1995 at the age of 83. From the