Mississippi Governor's Mansion facts for kids
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Mississippi Governor's Mansion
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | 300 East Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi |
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| Area | 2.4 acres (0.97 ha) |
| Built | 1839 |
| Architect | William Nichols, William S. Hull |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Smith Park Architectural District (ID76001097) |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000085 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | April 24, 1975 |
| Designated CP | April 23, 1976 |
The Mississippi Governor's Mansion is the official home for the governor of Mississippi. The current governor, Tate Reeves, lives and works here. This important building is in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. It sits just south of the Mississippi State Capitol, near Smith Park.
The mansion was finished in 1841. It was designed by a state architect named William Nichols. This makes it the second-oldest governor's home in the United States that is still being used today. It's also a great example of Greek Revival architecture, a popular style from the 1800s. Because of its history and design, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1975. It also became a Mississippi Landmark in 1985.
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Exploring the Governor's Mansion
The Mississippi Governor's Mansion is located just a few blocks from the Mississippi State Capitol building. It covers a whole city block, about 2.4 acres (0.97 ha) of land. Streets like East Amite, North Congress, East Capitol, and North West surround it.
The main entrance faces south toward East Capitol Street. There's also another entrance on the north side, which looks out onto Smith Park. Smith Park is the oldest public park in Jackson. The mansion is a two-story building made of white stone. It has a rectangular shape.
What Does It Look Like?
The front of the mansion has five sections, called bays. Each section has tall, flat columns called pilasters. These pilasters have fancy tops with scrolls. The middle section is larger and has a grand, round porch that is two stories tall. Four large columns support this porch. A decorative border, called an entablature, goes all around the building. It ends with a detailed edge under the roof.
At the back of the mansion, there's a newer two-story part. The back entrance here has a smaller, single-story porch. This porch also has four columns and a triangular top, like a Greek temple.
Inside the Mansion
Many parts of the mansion's original inside are still there. However, some areas have been rebuilt to look like they did in the early days. This happened after some changes were made in the 1800s and 1900s that didn't fit the original style.
When you enter the main door, you step into an eight-sided room. This room has special spots for statues in its walls. From here, you can go into the living rooms on the sides or find the main staircase at the back. The newer part of the house at the back is where the governor's family lives. It has all the modern comforts they need.
History of the Governor's Home
The idea for the mansion came from William Nichols, who was the state architect at the time. He was also busy overseeing the building of what is now known as the Old Mississippi State Capitol. Construction on the mansion began in 1839 and finished in 1841. The very first governor to live there was Tilghman Tucker in 1842.
Since then, the mansion has almost always been the governor's home. The only times it wasn't used were during renovations. The only other governor's home in the U.S. that has been used longer is the one in Virginia, called the Executive Mansion.
Changes Over Time
In the 1860s, gas lights were added to the building. This caused some damage to the wooden parts and plaster. Some of the wooden fireplace decorations were replaced with marble ones. In the early 1900s, people talked about replacing the mansion entirely. But the state decided to fix it up and make it bigger instead.
A two-story addition was built at the back of the mansion between 1908 and 1909. New plumbing was put into the main part of the house. The main staircase was also rebuilt to connect to the new addition.
By the 1970s, the mansion needed major repairs again. The 1908 addition wasn't built strongly enough. So, it was taken down, and a new, larger addition with a steel frame was built. The inside of the original mansion was also restored. Workers removed visible pipes and brought back its early 1800s look. They also added modern things like air conditioning.
Visiting the Mansion
You can take free guided tours of the Mississippi Governor's Mansion. Tours are usually available most Tuesday through Friday mornings. However, tours might be canceled if there are official events or other uses for the building.
Some educational non-profit groups can also hold events at the mansion. There is a fee for these types of events.
See also
