Harry S. Truman Little White House, Presidential historic site in Key West, United States.
The Harry S. Truman Little White House is a two-story white wood-sided building with a gray shingled roof in Key West's Truman Annex. It was built in 1890 as a duplex for the naval station's commandant and paymaster, and in 1911 it became a single-family dwelling for the commandant. Inside, guided tours show the rooms where the Trumans lived and worked, with Truman's briefcase, books, telephone and his "The Buck Stops Here" sign still at his desk.
The house was designed in 1889 by the local firm Scott, McDermott & Higgs and built in 1890 as the first officer's quarters of the U.S. naval station, a wooden duplex with Quarters A for the commandant and Quarters B for the paymaster. In 1911 it became the commandant's single-family dwelling, and it remained command headquarters through World War II. Truman first arrived in November 1946 on his doctor's orders and returned for 11 visits, spending 175 days of his presidency there.
Documents issued here read "The White House, US Naval Station, Key West, Florida." Cabinet members and foreign officials came for fishing trips and poker games, and after Truman's 1948 re-election Division Street was renamed Truman Avenue in his honor.
Guided tours run daily between 9 AM and 4:30 PM and last around 45 minutes. The museum sits within the historic naval station and is reached by a short walk from downtown.
In 2001 the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan came here to discuss territorial conflicts. This unexpected peace conference linked the residence to international diplomacy well beyond Truman's presidency.
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