Executive Mansion (Virginia) facts for kids
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Virginia Governor's Mansion
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The Virginia Executive Mansion in 2011
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Capitol Square, Richmond, Virginia |
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| Built | 1811 |
| Architect | Parris, Alexander; Thompkins, Christopher |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000360 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 4, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | June 7, 1988 |
The Virginia Governor's Mansion, which is often called the Executive Mansion, is the official home for the governor of Virginia. It is located in Richmond, Virginia, on a piece of land called Capitol Square.
Designed by the architect Alexander Parris, this mansion is special because it is the oldest governor's home in the United States that is still being used by a governor. Since 1813, every governor of Virginia and their family has lived here. The mansion is so important that it is recognized as both a Virginia Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. Over the years, it has been updated and made larger.
You can visit the mansion and take a tour on certain days of the week.
Contents
History of the Mansion
When Richmond became the capital city of Virginia in 1779, there wasn't a house for the governor. The famous Thomas Jefferson, who was governor at the time, had to rent a house. The state government didn't have much money and struggled to pay the rent on time.
Finally, in 1811, a law was passed to build a proper home for the governor. The building was finished in 1813. The first governor who was supposed to live there was George William Smith. Sadly, he died in the Richmond Theatre fire in 1811 while bravely saving people.
The first governor to actually live in the new mansion was James Barbour. Even though the law just called it a "residence," people started calling it the "mansion," and the name has been used ever since.
Famous Families and Changes
Over the years, many families have called the mansion home. Anne Holton lived there twice. First, as a child in the 1970s when her father, A. Linwood Holton Jr., was governor. She returned many years later as the first lady when her husband, Tim Kaine, was governor from 2006 to 2010.
In the 1950s, the gardens were beautifully redesigned by the landscape architect Charles Gillette. Later, when Roxane Gilmore was the first lady, the mansion was updated again. These changes helped restore its historic look and made it more accessible for people with disabilities.
As of 2024, Governor Glenn Youngkin and his family lived in the mansion.
The Mansion on TV
The Governor's Mansion has appeared on television several times.
- It was on the show American Idol when Governor Tim Kaine and his wife welcomed contestant Elliott Yamin from Richmond.
- A TV show called Home Again with Bob Vila showed the restoration work being done on the mansion in 2000.
- In 2006, Governor Tim Kaine gave a nationally televised speech from the mansion's ballroom. It was the Democratic Party's response to the President's State of the Union address.
Famous Visitors to the Mansion
Many important people from around the world have visited the mansion. Here are some of them:
- Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (who later became King Edward VII of the United Kingdom)
- Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
- U.S. Presidents Rutherford B. Hayes, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft
- Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II
- Charles Lindbergh, the famous pilot who was the first to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Virginia
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Richmond,Virginia
