Michigan Governor's Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Michigan Governor's Mansion |
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| General information | |
| Location | Lansing, Michigan, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 42°43′10″N 84°35′09″W / 42.71946°N 84.5859°W |
| Completed | 1957 |
The Michigan Governor's Mansion is the official home for the leader of the U.S. state of Michigan. There is also a special summer house for the governor.
The main home is a large house with a gate. It is in a safe, private area of Lansing. The second home, used in the summer, is on Mackinac Island.
Both homes belong to the state of Michigan. They are kept up with money from private donations. Michigan's state rules say there must be a governor's home in Lansing. Lansing is the state's capital city.
Primary Residence: Home for Michigan's Governor
The governor's main house in Lansing was built in 1957. Howard and Letha Sober had it built for their family. They gave it to the state in 1969. The State of Michigan provided all the furniture.
A famous American architect named Wallace Frost designed the house. He was known for classic styles. But this house is a ranch-style home with stone outside. It has a modern look, which was different for him. A special garden room was added in the mid-1970s.
The gated house sits on about four acres of land. This safe area is in the Moores River Drive estates of Lansing. It is close to the beautiful Grand River.
Many governors have lived in this mansion. These include William Milliken, James Blanchard, John Engler, and Jennifer Granholm. The current Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, also lives there.
The Lansing mansion was updated in the early 2000s. It is 10,300 sq ft (960 m2) in size. It has five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Governor Rick Snyder chose to stay at his home in Ann Arbor. He used the official mansion only for special events from 2011 to 2019.
Summer Getaway: Mackinac Island Residence
The Michigan Governor's Summer Residence is on Mackinac Island. It is a three-story house. It sits high on a bluff. From there, you can see the Straits of Mackinac.
This house was first built for Lawrence Andrew Young. He was a lawyer from Chicago. In 1944, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission bought the home. They paid $15,000, which was its original cost.
Since then, Michigan's governors have used this home. They host important meetings there. Leaders from the state and the country visit. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. This means it is a special historical site.
See also
