Colorado Governor's Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Colorado Governor's Mansion
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | 400 E. 8th Ave., Denver, Colorado |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | Willis A. Marean and Albert J. Norton |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000039 |
| Added to NRHP | December 3, 1969 |
The Colorado Governor's Mansion, also known as the Cheesman-Boettcher Mansion, is a historic house in Denver, Colorado. It is located at 400 East 8th Avenue. This beautiful mansion is where the Governor of Colorado lives and works. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on December 3, 1969. You can visit the mansion for free on special tours and during public events.
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A Look Back at the Governor's Mansion
The Governor's Mansion is in Denver, at 400 East 8th Avenue. People also call it the Cheesman-Evans-Boettcher Mansion. This is because of the important families who owned it before it became the Governor's home.
Who Built It?
The mansion was built in 1908. Two Denver architects, Willis A. Marean and Albert J. Norton, designed it. It was first built for the widow and daughter of Walter Cheesman. He was a very successful businessman in Denver, especially in real estate.
The house was designed to be large enough for two families. On November 8, 1908, Walter Cheesman's daughter, Gladys, married John Evans II. He was the grandson of John Evans, who was the second governor of Colorado when it was a territory. Gladys and her mother lived together until Gladys and John had their first child. Then, the young couple moved to their own home.
The Boettcher Family's Time
Claude K. Boettcher bought the mansion on February 23, 1923. Mr. Boettcher was the head of a huge business group. His businesses included sugar, livestock, cement, and transportation. He was known for throwing big parties at the mansion. One famous guest was President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952. Claude Boettcher passed away in 1957, and his wife passed away in 1958.
Becoming the Governor's Home
The house was then given to the Boettcher Foundation. The foundation offered the mansion to the State of Colorado to be the official home for its governors. The building needed a lot of repairs. For nine months in 1959, it was not clear if the state would accept it. Finally, on the last day of 1959, Governor Stephen McNichols accepted the mansion as a gift to Colorado.
Since then, many governors have lived in the mansion. These include Governors Stephen L. R. McNichols, John Love, John D.Vanderhoof, Richard D. Lamm, Roy R. Romer, William Owens, and William Ritter. The mansion was fixed up in the 1980s.
When Governor John Hickenlooper took office in January 2011, he chose to live in his own home in Denver. However, he did live in the mansion part-time after 2012. Governor Jared Polis, who took office after Hickenlooper, also chose to live in the mansion part-time. He stayed there during legislative sessions but kept his main home in Boulder.
Mansion Design and Look
The Cheesman-Evans-Boettcher Mansion is a grand house built in the Georgian Revival style. It has a formal and classic look.
Outside the Mansion
The building is surrounded by a fence made of wrought iron. The fence posts are brick and have round decorations on top. The walls of the mansion are made of red brick. Under the roof, there is white wooden trim. The roof is sloped and has windows that stick out.
On the west side, there is a large porch with tall, two-story columns. The main entrance is very impressive. It has columns that hold up a porch, which then becomes a balcony on the second floor. A curved sunroom was added in 1915. This room looks out over a small green area now called "Governor's Park."
The mansion was built in 1908.
