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All the United States Florida Key West Truman's Little White House

Truman's Little White House

A historic presidential getaway on the continental United States' southernmost island.

Key West, Florida

Added By
Mark Casey
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President Truman conducted official state business from this Key West location frequently   http://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com/key-...
President Truman conducted official state business from this Key West location frequently   http://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com/key-...
A front view of Truman’s Little White House   http://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com/
Truman also led official (and daily) walks through paradise.   http://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com/key-...
Extensive period-specific renovations have keep the interior authentic.   http://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com/
A sign outside marks the historic location and museum.   http://keywestvisitorguide.com/harry-s.-tr...
  michaelamiller / Atlas Obscura User
🥃   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Dewey Defeats Truman 📰   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  calvinsehrt / Atlas Obscura User
Truman white house   planan / Atlas Obscura User
This sometimes hidden poker table was the scene of many international policy sessions, including the Bay of Pigs   IronQueen / Atlas Obscura User
  michaelamiller / Atlas Obscura User
  michaelamiller / Atlas Obscura User
So many tropical shirts!   IronQueen / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Presidents are well-known for their getaway locations, whether they choose to clear brush on a ranch in Texas, visit their childhood home in Hawaii or retreat to nearby Camp David. Less common in the modern era is the practice of building and maintaining one's own official home-away-from-home that also acts as an office-away-from-office, but that was more common in Truman's time, and he took full advantage.

Thus the creation of what was known then as the "Little White House", a compound obtained and maintained by the Truman administration in the balmy tropical paradise of Key West, Florida. Truman made his love for Key West no secret, as not only did he set up an official secondary location for conducting state business on the island, he also annexed several miles of its sandy southern shoreline and created a naval base there, which is maintained to this day.

The building is now the Harry S. Truman Little White House museum. Complete with many of the original fixtures, amenities and objects of historic interest, the museum is a snapshot of a time when the presidency came with at least a bit more privacy, and keeping a sharp eye on Cuba came at a premium.

Truman's favor for the island did make sense. Key West has long been a location of strategic importance, whether it was an early warning location guarding against potential attacks by the Spanish navy, or a valuable outpost during the civil war. Bases such as Fort Zachary Taylor and Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas - both historic parks now - were built there more than a century ago. With Cuba just 90 miles away, it took on a whole new importance during the Cold War, one that Truman didn't shy away from embracing. Particularly, one would think, after he saw that Caribbean water.

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Architectural Oddities Eccentric Homes Architecture Homes

Know Before You Go

Head south on the Overseas Highway to Key West. Continue west on Roosevelt Avenue around the island until you find Fort Zachary Taylor State Beach. Follow signs for the Truman White House

Community Contributors

Added By

Mark Casey

Edited By

planan, calvinsehrt, michaelamiller, Jason Michael Walker...

  • planan
  • calvinsehrt
  • michaelamiller
  • Jason Michael Walker
  • IronQueen

Published

March 27, 2012

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  • http://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com/
  • http://keywestvisitorguide.com/harry-s.-truman-little-white-house/
Truman's Little White House
111 Front Street
Key West, Florida, 33040
United States
24.556329, -81.806899
Visit Website
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