Harry S. Truman Little White House - Key West
November 7, 2010: Built in 1890 on the waterfront as a two-family dwelling for the base commandant and paymaster of the Naval Station, this building was known as Quarters A and B. It served as command headquarters during the Spanish American War. In order to accommodate the larger scale ships, the harbor was dredged in 1909 and the land filled in front of the house. It was converted into a single-family residence in 1911.
Beginning in November 1946,President Truman used this house for 175 days as his Winter White House during his administration of 1945 -1953. He spent 11 working vacations here and the building became known as the Little White House. In 1948, the Joint Chiefs of Staff met at this house to create the Department of Defense by merging the Department of War and Department of the Navy. Additional information about the history of the "Little White House" can be found here.
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