Harry S. Truman Little White House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Little White House
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Naval Station Key West, Florida United States |
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| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | Scott, McDermott & Higgs; U.S. Navy |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000652 |
| Added to NRHP | February 12, 1974 |
The Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West, Florida, was a special place for President Harry S. Truman. It served as his "winter White House" for 175 days over 11 visits. You can find this historic house in the Truman Annex area of Old Town, Key West.
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History of the Little White House
This house was built in 1890 right on the waterfront. It was first used as living quarters for naval officers at the U.S. naval station. A local company, Scott, McDermott & Higgs, designed it in 1889. The building was a wooden duplex, meaning it had two separate living spaces. One part was for the base commander, and the other was for the paymaster.
In 1911, the building changed into a single home for the base commander. More land was added in front of the house. Later, a new building blocked its view of the water.
The first President to visit this site was William Howard Taft in December 1912. He arrived by train on Flagler's Overseas Railroad. President Taft stayed in Key West before sailing to Panama to check on the canal being built. During World War I, famous inventor Thomas Edison lived in the house. He helped the war effort by working on 41 underwater weapons. The house remained the command center through World War II.
President Truman's Visits
In November 1946, President Harry S. Truman was very tired after 19 months in office. His doctor told him to take a warm vacation. So, Truman came to Key West. When he left, he promised to return whenever he needed a break. His second vacation was in March 1947. This started a pattern of visits every November-December and February-March.
New technology allowed the President to talk with many leaders at once. He could also have staff fly from Washington to Key West in just three hours for meetings. Truman realized that wherever the President was, that was the White House. Documents from the Little White House were even signed "The White House, US Naval Station, Key West, Florida." President Truman spent a total of 175 days of his presidency here.
In 1948, James Forrestal met with military leaders at the house. They worked out the plan for creating the Department of Defense. This agreement was called the Key West Agreement. It was named after the meeting place where the basic ideas were decided.
During Truman's visits, Cabinet members and foreign leaders often came for fishing trips and poker games. After Truman was re-elected in 1948, Division Street in Key West was renamed Truman Avenue in his honor.
After leaving office, Truman returned to Key West several times. He stayed in different places then.
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Official log of Harry Truman's December 3–8, 1947 visit to Key West.
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Official log of Harry Truman's March 12 to April 10, 1950 visit to Key West.
Government Use After Truman
From 1948 to 1949, General Dwight D. Eisenhower held meetings here. These meetings led to the creation of the Department of Defense. He returned in December 1955 and January 1956 as President. He was recovering from a heart attack.
President John F. Kennedy and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan had a one-day meeting here in March 1961. President Kennedy visited a second time in 1962, right after the Cuban Missile Crisis.
The house continued to be the naval station's commanding officer's quarters until March 1974. The submarine base closed because the Navy switched from diesel to nuclear submarines. On February 12, 1974, the house was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Becoming a Museum
On January 1, 1987, the house was given to the State of Florida. It is now kept as a public museum. In 1990, almost a million dollars was spent to make the house look like it did in 1949. A special organization is working to restore it even more. They also hold educational events each spring about Truman's impact on today's world.
In 1991, the house opened as a state historic site and museum. Today, guided tours take visitors through the house. You can see the rooms where the Trumans lived, worked, and relaxed. Items like President Truman's briefcase, books, telephone, and his famous "The Buck Stops Here" sign are still on his desk. The back of the sign says, "I'm From Missouri."
Former President Jimmy Carter and his family had a reunion here in 1996. In April 2001, Secretary of State Colin Powell started peace talks here. These talks were between President Robert Kocharyan of Armenia and Heydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan.
In January 2005, former President Bill Clinton and his wife, then Senator Hillary Clinton, spent a relaxing weekend at the house.
See also
