Government House (Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Government House |
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Maryland Government House in 2022
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| General information | |
| Location | State Circle Annapolis, Maryland (Anne Arundel County) |
| Completed | 1870 (renovated/rebuilt 1935-1936) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Richard / R. Snowden Andrews (1830-1903) |
Government House, also known as the Governor's Mansion, is where the governor of Maryland lives and works. It is in Annapolis, Maryland, the state capital. The house is right next to the historic Maryland State House, where Maryland's laws are made.
Contents
History of the Governor's Home
Government House has been the home for Maryland's governors since it was finished in 1870. Before that, from 1777 to 1869, governors lived in a different house called Jennings House.
Today, the land where Jennings House stood is part of the United States Naval Academy. The Academy bought Jennings House in 1869. They used it for about 30 years before tearing it down in 1901 to build more of their campus.
Design and Architecture
The first design for Government House was created by Baltimore architect Richard Snowden Andrews. He designed it in a mix of Victorian and French Second Empire styles. It had a special mansard roof made of slate. The house also featured fancy white wood decorations and arched windows, showing some Italianate style.
The mansion had four levels. These included a basement, two main living floors, and an attic under the sloping roof.
Major Renovation in the 1930s
About 60 years later, in 1935 and 1936, Government House had a big makeover. This renovation happened during the Great Depression and Maryland's 300th anniversary. Architects changed the house's look completely. They wanted it to match the style of the nearby State House.
The new design used Georgian, Colonial Revival, and Federal styles. These styles were popular in the 1770s and 1780s. This made Government House look more like the historic buildings in the Colonial Annapolis Historic District. Two Maryland Governors, Albert C. Ritchie and Harry W. Nice, oversaw this major change.
Gallery
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The Grand Staircase inside Government House.
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The Dining Hall, where special meals are held.
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A comfortable Sitting Room in the Governor's home.
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This picture from around 1870 to 1934 shows the house's original Victorian and French Second Empire design by Richard Snowden Andrews.
