Governor's Mansion State Historic Park facts for kids
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California Governor's Mansion
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| Location | 1526 H St, Sacramento, California |
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| Built | 1877 |
| Architect | Nathaniel D. Goodell |
| Architectural style | Second Empire-Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000139 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1970 |
The California Governor's Mansion is the official home for the leader of California, known as the Governor. It is located in Sacramento, the capital city of California. This large house was built in 1877. The State of California bought it in 1903. Since then, 14 governors have lived in this important building.
Since 1967, the mansion has also been managed by California State Parks. It is now known as the Governor's Mansion State Historic Park. For many years, from 1967 to 2015, governors did not live in the mansion. It has also been unoccupied since 2019.
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History of the Mansion
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This grand house has thirty rooms and three floors. It was built in 1877 for a local businessman named Albert Gallatin. The mansion's style is a mix of Second Empire and Italianate designs, typical of the Victorian era.
In 1887, Gallatin sold the house to Joseph Steffens, who was a well-known businessman. Later, in 1903, the State of California bought the house. They wanted it to be the official home for California's governors.
Many items inside the mansion belonged to past governors. For example, there's a piano from 1902 that belonged to Governor Pardee. You can also see velvet chairs and sofas from Governor Hiram Johnson. Even some Persian rugs bought by the wife of Governor Earl Warren are still there.
Becoming a State Park
In 1967, the mansion became part of California State Parks. This made it the Governor's Mansion California State Historic Park. Governor Ronald Reagan lived in the mansion for a few months. However, he soon moved to a different home in Sacramento.
After Reagan, most governors chose not to live in the mansion. They preferred to live in other homes. For example, Governor Jerry Brown lived in a small apartment during his first terms. Governors George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson, and Gray Davis lived in different homes in Carmichael. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger often flew from his home in Los Angeles to Sacramento. He would stay in a hotel when he needed to be in the capital overnight.
In 1970, the mansion was opened to the public as a "historic house museum." This means people can visit it to learn about its history. In 2012, the mansion was almost closed as a state park. This was due to budget cuts. Luckily, the closures were avoided by reducing hours and maintenance across many state parks.
The Governor Returns
In 2015, the mansion became the official residence for the Governor again. Governor Jerry Brown and his wife, Anne Gust Brown, moved in. Before they moved, the mansion had big renovations. These updates cost $4.1 million. They fixed the electrical and plumbing systems. They also removed old lead paint and added fire sprinklers for safety.
Governor Brown was the first governor to live in the mansion since 1967. He moved in during his fourth term in 2017. In 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom and his family briefly lived in the mansion. They later moved to a house in Fair Oaks, a suburb of Sacramento.
Other Governor's Homes
California governors have used other places for official duties or as homes.
The Stanford Mansion
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The Leland Stanford Mansion is another important building. It was once the home of Leland Stanford, who was the 8th Governor of California and founded Stanford University. Today, this mansion is used by the California government for official events.
The governor often uses it to welcome important visitors from other countries. It also has an official office and workspace for the governor.
The Casa de los Gobernadores Mansion
Between 1974 and 1975, a new Governor's Mansion was built. It was located in Carmichael, a suburb of Sacramento. This house was a large, one-story home with 17 rooms. It had 8 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms. The land for this mansion was given by friends of Governor Reagan.
However, Governor Reagan never lived in this new mansion. It was finished after his time as governor ended. The next governor, Jerry Brown, also chose not to live there. In 1982, the state sold this mansion. It is now a private home and is not connected to the California government anymore.
Images for kids
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The California Governor's Mansion.
