Visit the Harry S. Truman Little White House

The Little White House: A Brief History

Originally built by the U.S. Navy in 1890, the Little White House served as naval command headquarters during the Spanish-American War, and also played roles in both World Wars and the Cold War. From 1946 through 1952, President Harry Truman used this house as his winter vacation home. Because he spent 175 days of his presidency here, it became known as the Little White House.

Presidential Visits

The name is fitting: Since Truman's days, many other presidents have also vacationed here, including Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Today, the Little White House has been restored and turned into a museum. Exhibits document Key West's role in naval conflicts, as well as the house's history – the Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine were both discussed here.

Getting There

The house is located on the western coast of Key West, just south of Mallory Square and about a mile north of Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. If you're arriving by car, know that parking in the Truman Annex isn’t allowed, but you can park at a nearby garage or lot at Mallory Square or along Whitehead Street. Additional on-site amenities include restrooms and a gift shop.

Visitor Information

Hours

Tours, which are around an hour long, are offered about every 20 minutes from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily.

Tickets

Guided house tours are included in the admission price. Fees start at $22.95 for adults and $10 for kids ages 4 to 12. Children 3 and younger enter for free. You can save a few dollars on each admission by purchasing your tickets on the venue's website.