List of governors' residences in the United States facts for kids

The United States has 50 states, and each one has a leader called a governor. Just like a president lives in the White House, most governors have a special home provided by the state. These homes are called official residences or governor's mansions. They are used for the governor's family to live in, and also for important state events and meetings.

Most states have an official home for their governor. However, five states currently do not have one: Arizona, Idaho, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island. This article will tell you about some of the interesting official and historic homes where governors have lived across the United States.

Homes for State Leaders

Many of these homes are not just places to live; they are also important historical buildings. Some are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), which means they are recognized for their historical importance. A few are even more special, being named National Historic Landmarks!

Alabama's Governor's Mansion

The current official home for Alabama's governor is the Governor's Mansion in Montgomery. It was built in 1907 and is designed in a Classical Revival style, which looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. Governors have lived here since 1951. This mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

Before this, Alabama had a "First Residence" from 1911 to 1950. It was a Beaux Arts brownstone that the state bought for $46,500. Sadly, it was torn down in 1963.

Alaska's Official Home

In Juneau, Alaska's Governor's Mansion has been the official home since 1912. It was completed and first used that year. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, recognizing its importance to Alaska's history.

Arkansas's Governor's Mansion

The Governor's Mansion in Little Rock is the first and only official home for Arkansas's governors. Construction started in 1947, and it officially opened in 1950. The mansion is part of a larger historic district that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

California's Historic Mansion

California's Historic Governor's Mansion in Sacramento was built in 1877. The state bought it in 1903, and governors lived there from 1903 to 1967, and again from 2015 to 2019. Today, it's a state park where people can visit and learn about its past. It's also a California Historical Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.

Colorado's Governor's Residence

The Governor's Residence in Denver has been the official home since 1960. It was built in 1908 and was given to the state in 1959. This beautiful Colonial Revival style home was restored in the 1980s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Connecticut's Governor's Residence

Connecticut's Governor's Residence in Hartford was built in 1909. The state bought it in 1943, and it has been the governor's home since 1945. It's a Georgian Revival style building, which means it looks like homes from the Georgian era in England.

Delaware's Woodburn Mansion

Delaware's Governor's Mansion, also known as Woodburn, is in Dover. It was built around 1798 in the Georgian style. The state bought it in 1965 for the governor's use. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Florida's People's House

Florida's Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee is sometimes called "The People's House of Florida." The first mansion was built in 1907 in a Colonial Revival style. It was used until 1955 when it was found to be unsafe and was torn down. A new mansion was built and occupied in 1957. It was expanded in 2005 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Georgia's Governor's Mansions

Georgia has had several official homes for its governors. The current Governor's Mansion in Atlanta was built in 1967 in a Greek Revival style. It was damaged by a tornado in 1975 but was quickly renovated.

An older, very important home is the Old Governor's Mansion in Milledgeville. It was used from 1838 to 1868 when Milledgeville was the state capital. Today, it's open for public tours.

Hawaii's Historic Washington Place

Washington Place in Honolulu is a very special place in Hawaii. It was built in 1847 in a Greek Revival style. It was once the palace of Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaii's last monarch. It became the Executive Mansion in 1918. In 2002, a new official residence was built, and Washington Place became a historic house museum. It is both a National Register of Historic Places site and a National Historic Landmark.

Illinois's Oldest Mansion

The Governor's Mansion in Springfield is one of the oldest continuously used governor's mansions in the United States. It was completed in 1855 in an Italianate style. While the governor and family have a private apartment, the mansion is mostly used for state events and as a historic site. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Indiana's Governor's Residence

Indiana's Governor's Residence in Indianapolis has been the official home since 1973. It's built in an English Tudor Revival style and was originally a private home built in 1924 before the state bought it.

Iowa's Terrace Hill

Terrace Hill in Des Moines is Iowa's official governor's home since 1976. This grand mansion was started in 1866 and completed in 1869 in the Second Empire style. It was a gift to the state from the Hubbell family. Terrace Hill is on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a National Historic Landmark.

Kansas's Cedar Crest

Cedar Crest in Topeka has been Kansas's governor's home since 1962. It was built in 1928 in a country French chateau style. The mansion was given to the state in 1955. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Kentucky's Two Mansions

Kentucky has two notable governor's mansions in Frankfort. The current Governor's Mansion was built between 1912 and 1914 in a Beaux-Arts style. It replaced an older mansion and has been the executive residence ever since. It's on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Old Governor's Mansion was completed in 1798. It's sometimes called "the Palace." It's believed to be the oldest official executive residence still in use in the United States, even though it's now mainly used by the Lieutenant Governor. It's also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Louisiana's Governor's Mansion

Louisiana's Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge has been the official home since 1963. It's designed in a Greek Revival style with some Colonial Revival features.

The Old Governor's Mansion was used from 1930 to 1961. After that, it became a museum and is now a historic house museum. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Maine's Blaine House

The Blaine House in Augusta has been Maine's official governor's residence since 1919. It was built in 1833 and bought by a famous politician, James G. Blaine, in 1862. His daughter later donated it to the state. The Blaine House is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.

Maryland's Government House

Maryland's Government House in Annapolis has been the official residence since 1870. It's located right on State Circle, close to the state capitol.

Michigan's Residences

Michigan has a Governor's Mansion in Lansing that has been used since 1969. It was built in 1957 as a private home and was later donated to the state.

Michigan also has a special Governor's Summer Residence on Mackinac Island. This three-story home, built in 1902, overlooks the Straits of Mackinac. It was bought by the state in 1944 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Minnesota's Governor's Residence

The Governor's Residence in Saint Paul has been the official home since 1965. It's located on Summit Avenue, a historic street known for its beautiful homes.

Mississippi's Historic Mansion

The Governor's Mansion in Jackson is one of the nation's oldest continuously used gubernatorial mansions, occupied by governors since 1842. It was built between 1839 and 1842 and is a beautiful example of Greek Revival style. It's on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.

Missouri's Governor's Mansion

Missouri's Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City has been the official residence since 1871. It's a grand building that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

Montana's Former Mansion

Montana's current Governor's Residence in Helena has been in use since 1959. Before that, the Former Montana Executive Mansion was used from 1913 to 1959. This older home was designed in the Queen Anne style by a famous architect named Cass Gilbert.

Nebraska's Governor's Mansion

The Governor's Mansion in Lincoln has been the official home since 1958. It's a significant building that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

Nevada's Governor's Mansion

Nevada's Governor's Mansion in Carson City has been the official residence since 1909. This historic home is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

New Hampshire's Bridges House

New Hampshire's Governor's Mansion, also known as Bridges House, is in Concord. It has been the official home since 1969 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

New Jersey's Residences

New Jersey's official governor's home is Drumthwacket in Princeton, used since 1982. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

New Jersey also has a Governor's Ocean House in Island Beach State Park, used since 1953. It's a Cape Cod Colonial Revival style home.

Before Drumthwacket, Morven was the official residence from 1954 to 1981. Built in 1730, it's now a museum and garden, and is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

New Mexico's Governor's Mansion

New Mexico's Governor's Mansion in Santa Fe has been the official home since 1954. It's built in a modified Territorial style.

Even older is the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe, which served as a governor's residence from 1610 to 1909. It's one of the oldest government buildings in the Americas.

New York's Executive Mansion

New York's State Executive Mansion in Albany has been the official home since 1875. It's a Queen Anne style building and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

North Carolina's Executive Mansion

North Carolina's Executive Mansion has been the official home since 1891. It's also built in the Queen Anne style and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The state also has a Governor's Western Residence in Asheville, used since 1964.

North Dakota's Residences

North Dakota's current Governor's Residence in Bismarck has been in use since 2018. Before that, a former residence was used from 1960 to 2018, which has since been demolished.

An even older home, the Former North Dakota Executive Mansion, was used from 1893 to 1960.

Ohio's Governor's Mansion

Ohio's Governor's Mansion, also known as the Malcolm Jeffrey House, is in Bexley. It has been the official home since 1957. It was built between 1923 and 1925 in a Tudor Revival style.

The Old Governor's Mansion in Columbus was built in 1904 and is now known as the Ohio Archives Building. It's on the National Register of Historic Places.

Oklahoma's Governor's Mansion

Oklahoma's Governor's Mansion in Oklahoma City has been the official home since 1928. It's designed in a Dutch Colonial Revival style.

Oregon's Mahonia Hall

Mahonia Hall in Salem is Oregon's official governor's home. It was built in 1924 in a Tudor Revival style. The state acquired it in 1988 through private donations. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Pennsylvania's Governor's Residence

Pennsylvania's Governor's Residence in Harrisburg has been the official home since 1969. It's built in a Colonial Revival style.

Puerto Rico's La Fortaleza

Palacio de Santa Catalina, also known as La Fortaleza or "The Fortress," is in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's the oldest continuously used government building in the Americas, built as a fort between 1533 and 1540. It has been expanded over time to become a palace and is both a National Register of Historic Places site and a National Historic Landmark.

South Carolina's Governor's Mansion

South Carolina's Governor's Mansion in Columbia has been the official home since 1868. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

South Dakota's Governor's Residence

South Dakota's Governor's Mansion in Pierre has been the official home since 2005.

Tennessee's Governor's Mansion

Tennessee's Governor's Mansion in Oak Hill has been the official home since 1949. It's a three-story Georgian-style mansion that was built as a private home in 1929.

Texas's Governor's Mansion

The Governor's Mansion in Austin has been the home of every Texas governor since 1856. It was built in 1855. This mansion is both a National Register of Historic Places site and a National Historic Landmark.

Another historic site is the Spanish Governor's Palace in San Antonio, built around 1722. It's also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Utah's Governor's Mansion

Utah's Governor's Mansion in Salt Lake City was built in 1902. It was donated to the state in 1937 to be the governor's home. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Virginia's Executive Mansion

Virginia's Executive Mansion in Richmond has been the official home since 1813. It was built in 1811 in a Federal style. It's a National Register of Historic Places site and a National Historic Landmark.

An even older historic site is the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg. It was completed in 1721 and was home to seven governors, including Thomas Jefferson. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1781, but a reconstructed version opened in 1934.

Washington's Governor's Mansion

Washington State's Governor's Mansion in Olympia has been the official home since 1909. It was built in 1908 in a Colonial Revival style.

West Virginia's Governor's Mansion

West Virginia's Governor's Mansion in Charleston has been the official home since 1925. It's built in a Colonial Revival style and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Wisconsin's Governor's Mansion

Wisconsin's Governor's Mansion in Maple Bluff has been the official home since 1949. It was built in 1920 in a Classical Revival style and was sold to the state in 1949.

Wyoming's Governor's Mansions

Wyoming's current Governor's Mansion in Cheyenne was built in 1976 in a Colonial Revival style.

Before that, the Old Governor's Mansion was used. This historic home is also in Cheyenne and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Images for kids

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  Governor George Smith Houston House in Athens, Alabama.

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  Old Governor's Mansion in Prescott, Arizona.

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  Grouseland, Indiana.

• Witmer House.jpg

  Witmer House, Iowa.

• Governor L. D. Lewelling House.jpg

  Governor L. D. Lewelling House in Wichita, Kansas.

• Mouton House.jpg

  Mouton House in Opelousas, Louisiana.

• Jennings House (Annapolis, Maryland).jpg

  Jennings House in Annapolis, Maryland.

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  Province House, Boston, Massachusetts.

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  Governor's Mansion in Marshall, Michigan.

• Governor William J. Bulow House from NW 1.JPG

  Governor William J. Bulow House in Beresford, South Dakota.

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  Governor Leslie Jensen House in Hot Springs, South Dakota.

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  Governor John L. Pennington House in Yankton, South Dakota.

See also

• List of residences of presidents of the United States
• List of university and college presidents' houses in the United States