Grand staircases, state-shaped pools, and a bowling alley in the basement: Here's what the governor's mansion looks like in every state
The Alabama governor's mansion is in Montgomery.
Alabama's 112-year-old state mansion, with a grand staircase and four Corinthian columns, has been the residence of the governor since 1951. The mansion is two floors and 8,500 square feet.
In the 1970s, a state-shaped swimming pool, a guest house, and a water feature were added.
The Alaska governor's mansion is in Juneau.
The mansion was built for $40,000 in 1912. To deal with the cold, the 12,900-square-foot house has eight fireplaces for its 26 rooms. Above a winding staircase hangs a large painting of Russian emperor Peter the Great, who was responsible for Russia discovering Alaska. The painting has BB-gun bullets near Peter's eyes, and there has been a decades-long controversy over who pulled the trigger.
Since 1913, the mansion has opened to the public once a year for a tour at Christmas.
Arizona used to have a governor's mansion in Prescott.
Arizona does not currently have a governor's mansion, but it did once. A 150-year-old log cabin on the Sharlot Hall Museum campus used to be the governor's mansion in Prescott. It was only used for about two years before the capital moved to Tucson.
The Arkansas governor's mansion is in Little Rock.
The three-story mansion, a Georgian Colonial-style building, has been home to the state's governors since 1950. There was no official residence before this one. When it was opened to the public in 1950, 180,000 visitors toured it.
The property is 8.5 acres, with six different gardens. Since 1989, the house received nearly $6 million to renovate and expand the house. It has antique Persian carpets, a 62-piece sterling silver service from the USS Arkansas, and a grandfather clock from Ireland made in the 18th century. Notable visitors who have stayed the night include former President Harry Truman and actor Gregory Peck.
The house can be toured in person, or online.
The California governor's mansion is in Sacramento.
The three-story Victorian-style mansion was built in 1877. It has 30 rooms, Italian marble fireplaces, original wood floors, Persian rugs, and a kidney-shaped swimming pool.
The governor's mansion took a break for almost 50 years when then-Gov. Ronald Reagan moved out, after his wife Nancy called it "a fire trap." From 1967 to 2015, it was a public museum, until Gov. Jerry Brown moved into the property after a $1.6 million renovation.
Sacramento-born writer Joan Didion called the mansion "an enlarged version of a very common kind of California tract house."
The Colorado governor's mansion is in Denver.
The two-story mansion, known as "Colorado's Home," was built in 1908. It has 27 rooms and has been the official residence since 1960. It features red brick and white trim, with mahogany woodwork and oak floors inside. It also has a Steinway piano signed by Liberace.
In 2014, one notable addition was the installation of a three-handle draft beer system, serving a rotating selection of local craft beers.
When former Gov. John Hickenlooper was in office, he didn't always live there, and allowed cabinet members, who lived far away, to use it as a dormitory. One of those who took up the offer described the experience to The New York Times with the question, "Have you ever seen the movie 'The Shining'?"
The Connecticut governor's mansion is in Hartford.
The 15,000-square-foot, Georgian-style mansion was built in 1909 and has housed governors since 1945. It has 19 rooms, a greenhouse, a pool, and tall gates, which were built in 1971.
In 2018, it appeared on Airbnb, when one candidate advertised rooms for $200 before the website removed the listing. Groups can reserve hour-long guided tours.
The Delaware governor's mansion is in Dover.
The Georgian-style mansion, built in 1798, has served as the state leader's official residence since 1965. It is one of the country's smallest governor's mansions at 3,584 square feet, with seven bedrooms. It might have been part of the Underground Railroad.
Tours are available Monday to Friday by appointment.
The Florida governor's mansion is in Tallahassee.
The Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1956. It features a swimming pool, cabana, exercise room, greenhouse, and rose garden.
In October 2018, it was opened up to state troopers who were on their way to help areas damaged by Hurricane Michael. Fifty troopers had dinner, and 35 slept the night.
The Georgia governor's mansion is in Atlanta.
The 24,000-square-foot mansion, built in 1967 in a Greek Revival-style, has 30 rooms and sits on an 18-acre property. There is no key for the front door, since security is always present. Inside, it has a painting by Benjamin West and a signed, first-edition copy of "Gone With the Wind." The furnishings are thought to be worth more than the house.
A book called "Memories of the Mansion" has been published about the house. Public tours take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
The Hawaii governor's mansion is in Honolulu.
The mansion pictured here was built in 1846, and was the Hawaii governor's mansion from 1959 to 2002. It was also home to Queen Lili'uokalani.
Since 2002, Hawaii's governor lives in a 5,000-square-foot home right behind the former mansion. It's called "Hale Kia'aina" meaning, "home of the governor."
Idaho doesn't have a governor's mansion, although a billionaire once tried to donate one to the state.
Idaho has had governor's mansions in the past. One home in Boise was sold in 1990 after the governor declined to live there because it had deteriorated.
In 2004, J. R. Simplot, a billionaire who developed commercial frozen french fries, donated a hilltop mansion to the state. The house needed heavy renovations, and high maintenance costs for lawns prompted the state to give it back to the family in 2013. The home was later demolished.
Idaho state pays the governor a housing stipend of $4,500 a month instead.
The Illinois governor's mansion is in Springfield.
The 50,000-square- foot mansion, built in 1855, has housed every Illinois governor since it was finished. The house has a ballroom, four formal parlors, and a library. It is the third oldest governor's mansion still in use.
In 2018, it was opened to the public after $15 million worth of renovations and has had more than 29,000 visitors.
Tours through the mansion are held daily.
The Indiana governor's mansion is in Indianapolis.
The 10,000-square-foot mansion, built in the English Tudor style in 1928, has more than 20 rooms and sits on over 6 acres. It has been the official governor's mansion since 1973.
The house is "structurally unique" due to it being constructed with concrete reinforcements throughout, which typical English Tudor homes don't have. It has two dining rooms, a sun porch, a pantry for butlers, and staff offices.
Tours can be booked here.
The Iowa governor's mansion is in Des Moines.
The mansion, called "Terrace Hill", was built in the 1860s, but it didn't become state property until 1971. Four governors have lived in the mansion.
It takes Christmas especially seriously. For decades, every year, the residence is taken over for a day, and each room is decorated by different florists or organizations.
In 2012, then-Gov. Terry Brandstad and his wife had to move out when black mold was found in the house. In 2007, several people got a fungal disease linked to bat and bird droppings after attending a party at Terrace Hill.
Since cleared of health hazards, the house is open to tours from March to December.
The Kansas governor's mansion is in Topeka.
The three-story French-style mansion, called "Cedar Crest," was built in 1928 for a newspaper owner. It has been the home to governors since 1962.
Cedar Crest's 6,000 square feet is situated on 244 acres, with hiking trails, ponds, and gardens. It's open to the public on Mondays.
From 1998 to 2000, $4.4 million was spent renovating the house.
The Kentucky governor's mansion is in Frankfort.
The Beaux-Arts-style mansion, built in 1912 and modeled after Marie Antoinette's home near the Palace of Versailles, has been the official residence since 1914. Twenty-four governors have lived in the mansion. It has 25 rooms.
Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr., and Queen Elizabeth II have all visited the mansion. Guided tours are available for appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Louisiana governor's mansion is in Baton Rouge.
The 25,000-square-foot Greek-Revival style mansion was built in 1963. It sits on eight acres and overlooks Capitol Lake. It was designed in its style, which was unusual at the time, to ward off being destroyed by fire and neglect.
In 2019, it made headlines after a man managed to break in and fall asleep on a couch.
The Maine governor's mansion is in Augusta.
The 28-room mansion, called "The Blaine House", was built in the 1830s, and became the official residence for the governor in 1919. It was originally built in Federalist style, but was later remodeled to look like a Colonial structure.
Helen Keller, Bette Davis, Groucho Marx, and Amelia Earhart all visited Blaine House.
Tours of the house are available on Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Maryland governor's mansion is in Annapolis.
The Georgian-style 38,000-square-foot mansion has been home to governors since 1870. It has 54 rooms, a 49-step red oak staircase, and a $169,000 Victorian fountain. It has seven public rooms, where portraits of George Washington and Queen Henrietta Maria — the state's namesake — hang.
Tours are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Massachusetts doesn't have a governor's mansion, but reports say it was almost the Ames-Webster Mansion in the early 1970s.
Since the 1850s, there have been attempts to get an official residence. Mostly, the reason it didn't happen, on several different occasions, is financing. In the early 1970s, it's rumored that the Ames-Webster Mansion was on offer, but then-Gov. Frank Sargent was wary about spending, as he'd recently proposed a tax increase.
The Michigan governor's mansion is in Lansing.
The 8,700-square-foot, Ranch-style mansion was built in 1957, and has been the state's official residence since 1969. It has five bedrooms and four bathrooms. In 2004, $2.5 million of private funds were spent to give the house a "facelift."
The governor of Michigan also gets a summer residence on Mackinac Island, which has been state-owned since 1944, and has 11 bedrooms.
The Minnesota governor's mansion is in St. Paul.
The 16,000-square-foot English Tudor-style mansion was finished in 1912, and became the state's official residence in 1965. It sits on one acre of ritzy Summit Avenue and has housed 11 governors. Inside, there are nine fireplaces, seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms.
The Mississippi governor's mansion is in Jacksonville.
The Greek Revival-style mansion was built in 1842. It is the second oldest continuously occupied governor's residence in the US.
Over the years, the residence deteriorated, until 1971 when then-Gov. John Williams had to move out due to disrepair. But in 1972, the legislature allocated $2.7 million to restore the building.
The mansion is open to the public for tours Tuesdays through Fridays.
The Missouri governor's mansion is in Jefferson City.
The three-story brick mansion was built in 1872 and has been the official residence since then. It has 13 bedrooms and a 17-foot-high great hall. Due to the period when it was built, it originally didn't have any bathrooms or closets.
The house is currently undergoing a $3.3 million renovation, including updates to the plumbing and heating systems. It hosts more than 50,000 visitors every year.
The Montana governor's mansion is in Helena.
The 11,185-square-foot mansion was built in 1959. It has 11 rooms and seven bathrooms, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Helena Valley. The house curves to a point with a deck at the end, which is meant to look like the bow of a ship.
Before that, the previous governor's mansion was home to nine governors between 1913 and 1959. That historic house is open for tours.
The Nebraska governor's mansion is in Lincoln.
The 15,000-square-foot Georgian Colonial-style mansion was opened in 1958 and sits on a whole city block. It has 31 rooms and four fireplaces. It has a state dining room, with a built in-buffet, which can seat 24 for dinner.
In the 1980s, then-first gentleman Bill Orr was critical of the interior decor and helped raised money for renovations by authoring a cookbook. In 1997, an elevator was also built inside.
The Nevada governor's mansion is in Carson City.
The Classical Revival-style, two-story mansion was built in 1909. It has 23-rooms, a grand entrance area, a private den, a formal dining area, two salons, and a wrap-around porch on the second story.
In 1969, a circular pergola, curved front stairs, and metal balustrades were added to the house. A $5 million renovation in 1999 added a 6,608-square-foot building called the Nevada room, which can cater 300 guests.
It has housed 18 governors.
The New Hampshire governor's mansion is in Concord.
The 6,725-square-foot brick mansion, also known as "Bridges House," was built in 1836 and donated to the state in 1969.
It has not generally been a place to live for governors and their families, because it only has two bedrooms. Only Gov. Mel Thomson actually lived in it during his term in the 1970s. Most governors use it for official events instead.
The home fell into disrepair in the 1990s, but former Gov. John Lynch and his wife First Lady Susan Lynch worked hard to resurrect the house.
The New Jersey governor's mansion is in Princeton.
The Greek-Revival mansion, called "Drumthwacket," was built in 1834. It has 20 rooms, a library, a music room, and sits on 11 acres filled with Italian gardens. The state purchased it in 1966.
Every Christmas, the mansion is decorated and opened up to the public.
The New Mexico governor's mansion is in Santa Fe.
The 8,000-square-foot Territorial Revival-style mansion was built in the mid-1950s. It is the third official residence for New Mexico. Harrison Ford was married on the mansion grounds.
Tours are offered from April to October.
The New York governor's mansion is in Albany.
The mansion was built in 1856 and has been the official residence for 32 governors since 1875. It has 40 rooms, a 20-foot master bathroom, and two swimming pools — one indoor and one outdoor. It sits on six acres.
Notable incidents include when Theodore Roosevelt had to break in through a first-floor window when he locked himself out, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo getting spooked, when he thought it was haunted by the spirit of a groundskeeper, who served the house's original owners.
The North Carolina governor's mansion is in Raleigh.
The 35,000-square-foot, Victorian-style mansion has been the official residence since 1891. It's the state's fourth, and has housed 30 governors. Inside, it has rooms with 16.5-foot ceilings, an elevator, and a bomb shelter.
It sits on almost 5 acres, and is the country's third-biggest governor's mansion. Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt thought it had the most beautiful interior out of all of them.
The North Dakota governor's mansion is in Bismarck.
The 13,700-square-foot mansion was finished in 2018 and cost nearly $5 million to build. It has six bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, marble floors, white oak walls, and cedar ceilings.
It also has a 22-foot ceiling in its reception area, with a spiral staircase that's meant to resemble the Capitol's Memorial Hall.
The Ohio governor's mansion is in Columbus.
The 13,000-square-foot mansion was built in the 1920s and has housed governors since 1955. It has 20 rooms and sits on 3 acres, with a heritage garden. The house was donated to the state in 1955 and since then, every Ohio governor, except two, have lived there while in office.
The Oklahoma governor's mansion is in Oklahoma City.
The 14,000-square-foot, Dutch Colonial-style mansion has been the official residence since 1928. It's been home to 19 governors. It has a limestone exterior that matches the State Capitol, and a walnut-paneled library filled with books about the state or written by writers from the state.
It also has an Oklahoma-shaped pool, and a tennis court that was originally built as a landing pad for then-President Lyndon B. Johnson's helicopter.
Tours are available by reservation from January to May.
The Oregon governor's mansion is in Salem.
The 11,409-square-foot, Tudor-style mansion, called "Mahonia Hall", has been the official residence since 1987. It was built in the 1920s.
It has eight bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms, a wine cellar, and a sun room, and a ballroom.
The Pennsylvania governor's mansion is in Harrisburg.
The Georgian-style, 28,000-square-foot mansion was built in the 1940s. It became the official residence in 1968. It's three stories, and sits on 3.5 acres, which is filled with a series of gardens, and bee hives that produce 90 pounds of honey every year.
In 2019, Gov. John Fetterman opened the pool up to children for swimming lessons. Visitors can also tour the house on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Rhode Island doesn't have a governor's mansion.
There are several possible reasons why the Rhode Island governor doesn't get to live rent-free. One is that the state legislature used to rove around, and until 1854 the island had five capitals, and then two until 1900. Both of these factors made it difficult to choose a permanent location for a mansion.
Along with this, the size of Rhode island makes for a short commute, and the state reportedly lacked funds.
The South Carolina governor's mansion is in Columbia.
The two-story, Federal-style mansion was built in 1855, originally as an officer quarters for a military academy. It has been the official residence since 1868. It's housed more than 30 governors and their families. Inside, there's a formal drawing room and a state dining room. It sits on 9 acres, and is shaded by old magnolias, oaks, and elms.
In 2003, then-Gov. Mark Sanford and his family moved into the house after renovations, but due to accepting the lowest bid from construction companies, poor repairs led to six family members having to move into the one-room pool house.
For the last 40 years, the mansion has been decorated and opened to the public every Christmas.
The South Dakota governor's mansion is in Pierre.
The 14,000-square-foot, two-story mansion has been the official residence since 2005.The mansion has five bedrooms, a grand dining hall that can hold 80 people, two fireplaces, and a commercial kitchen. Its exterior is a mixture of field stone, copper flashing, brick, and concrete.
The house can be toured throughout the summer.
The Tennessee governor's mansion is in Nashville.
The three-story, Georgian-style mansion was built in 1931 and became the official residence in 1949. The house has 16 rooms, including a 14,000-square-foot banquet and meeting space beneath the front lawn.
Inside, some of the art includes a portrait of Elvis and photos of him when he was dating then-Gov. Buford Ellington's daughter. The entrance has a black and white marble floor — the black marble was imported from Belgium, and the white from Georgia.
It sits on 10 acres and used to be called "Far Hills," because of its view. It has housed nine governors and their families.
Free tours are available throughout the year.
The Texas governor's mansion is in Austin.
The Greek Revival-style mansion has been the state's official residence since 1856. The house has a veranda, floor-to-ceiling windows, and six 29-foot columns along the front porch.
In 2008, an arsonist threw a Molotov cocktail at the house and caused major damage. Then-Gov. Rick Perry and his family (who weren't at the house during the fire) couldn't move back in for four years. Before the fire, it housed Texas politician Sam Houston's four-poster bed, and the writing desk of Stephen F. Austin, who has been dubbed the founder of Texas.
The Utah governor's mansion is in Salt Lake City.
The French Renaissance mansion, called the "Kearns Mansion," was built in 1902 and became the official residence in 1937. It has 28 rooms — including six bathrooms, 10 fireplaces, a ballroom, a billiards room, two dining rooms, and three vaults for wine and other valuables.
The interior is decorated in bronze, iron, Russian mahogany, and oak from France and England. The mansion has a bowling alley in the basement, and used to have a large metal safe to keep candy guarded.
In 1993, a fire damaged the building and almost $8 million was spent restoring the residence.
It's open for public tours.
Vermont doesn't have a governor's mansion.
Vermont's governor might be missing out because of the state's "famous frugality". It could also be because Vermont's people want a relatable governor.
In 2012, there was a proposal to convert a mansion into a conference center, and have a 3,500-square-foot guest apartment for the governor. But it doesn't appear that went anywhere, as the current Gov. Phil Scott lives with his family in Berlin, Vermont.
The Virginia Governor's mansion is in Richmond.
The two-story, Federal-style mansion has been the official residence since 1813. It has housed 60 governors and their families, and is the oldest governor's mansion in the country still in use.
It has hosted Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, and former presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Barack Obama.
The Washington governor's mansion is in Olympia.
The 21,000-square-foot, Georgian-style mansion has been the official residence since 1909. The house has 19 rooms, a ballroom, and a state dining room. Its exterior is made from red brick from Seattle and white marble from Alaska. It sits on 12 acres. It's been damaged twice by earthquakes, first in 1949 and again in 2001.
In 1997, the mansion made headlines when bats were seen inside, which led to fears of rabies for the governing family.
The West Virginia governor's mansion is in Charleston.
The Georgian Colonial-style mansion has been the official residence since 1925.
The house has eight bedrooms, four bathrooms, a drawing room, a ballroom, a state dining room, a sitting room, and a library. At its entrance, there are black and white marble floors, the black from Belgium, the white from Tennessee. It also has dual staircases, which were inspired by the White House.
The Wisconsin governor's mansion is in Maple Bluff.
The Classical Revival-style, three-story mansion was built in 1927 and has been the official residence since 1950. It is Wisconsin's second governor's mansion.
It has 34 rooms, 13 bathrooms, and a 20,000-square-foot basement. Its walls are between 12 and 18 inches thick. It sits on almost 4 acres, with 10 gardens, and overlook Lake Mendota.
Tours are available in the spring and summer.
The Wyoming governor's mansion is in Cheyenne.
The 7,785-square-foot mansion was built in 1976. It was made out of stained redwood siding and moss rock. It is the second official residence for the state.
Tours are available Tuesdays through Thursdays.
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