New York State Executive Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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New York State Executive Mansion
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East facade in 2011
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 138 Eagle Street Albany, New York |
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| Area | 9.9 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1856 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne (previously Italianate) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000518 |
| Added to NRHP | February 18, 1971 |
The New York State Executive Mansion is the official home of the governor of New York. It is located at 138 Eagle Street in Albany, New York. Governors and their families have lived in this house since 1875.
History of the Governor's Home
The mansion was built in 1856. It was first a private home for a banker named Thomas W. Olcott. The house was designed in the Italianate style. In the 1860s, its second owner, Robert L. Johnson, made many changes to the house.
Samuel Tilden was the first governor to live in the house. He rented it in 1875. Two years later, the state of New York bought the mansion.
After a fire in 1961, people thought about building a new home for the governor. But Governor Nelson Rockefeller wanted to save the old mansion. He helped get the mansion listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important historical places. In the early 1980s, a group was formed to help restore the home.
Over the years, different governors have added their own touches to the mansion. For example, Theodore Roosevelt built a gymnasium. Franklin D. Roosevelt added a swimming pool in 1932. This pool was later covered up and the building became a greenhouse. But Governor Mario Cuomo had the pool restored. Al Smith built a small zoo, and Nelson Rockefeller added tennis courts.
Twenty-nine governors lived in the mansion full-time. Governor George Pataki was the first to not live there all the time. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo began living in the mansion in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his three daughters stayed there. Governor Kathy Hochul and her husband William Hochul currently live in the mansion. Her daughter Caitlin and her partner also reside there.
Eco-Friendly Mansion: Green Certification
In April 2009, Michelle Paige Paterson, who was the wife of Governor David Paterson, made an announcement. She said that the mansion had earned a special award. It received a Gold certification from the US Green Building Council. This award is called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). It means the building is very eco-friendly in how it operates and is maintained.
The New York State Executive Mansion was the first governor's home in the country to get this Gold status. This project took almost two years to complete. It was started by the previous First Lady, Silda Wall Spitzer.
Free guided tours of the Executive Mansion were once offered to the public. However, these tours are currently not available.
See also
