Presidents in Keys West

When we got up, the sky was clear and by the time we left Toby the sun was shining. Today's tourist expedition is Truman's Little White House. The entrance is on Whitehead Street, one block south of Duval. This area was the Naval Station and the house was built in 1890 as the first officer's quarters. When it was built it was right on the water, but before World War II the land was filled in and a four-story office building was built between the house and the water. The Navy closed this base in 1974 and today the house is surrounded by condos and townhouses, all done in beautiful "Key West" style and lushly landscaped.

Our guide was a character. Here he on the steps holding the key to the White House. One of his lines is, "Not everyone has a key to the White House," and then went on to tell of a woman on a recent tour who jumped up and said, "I do." when he asked about it she said her name was Mrs. White.

The Naval Station was first visited by President Taft who arrived by ship and came to the house for lunch. President Truman first visited in 1946 for a vacation and ultimately spent 175 days of his Presidency here. He loved Key West and they loved him. The Truman name appears frequently and this area of town is now called The Truman Annex. The house is furnished as it was when he visited here, including the poker table constructed by sailors on the base for the President, who loved playing poker in the evenings, and the piano he played. When President was here the Presidential Yacht was docked at the pier and all meals were prepared on board and served in the house. The Yacht also served as communications headquarters for the President.

In later years the house was used by Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Carter for various functions. Key West calls it their only Presidential Museum.