Pennsylvania Governor's Residence facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor's Residence
General information
Architectural style	Georgian
Location	2035 North Front Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania United States
Coordinates	40°16′39″N 76°53′55″W
Construction started	December 1966
Completed	December 1968
Inaugurated	February 1969
Cost	US$2 million
Client	Governor of Pennsylvania
Owner	Pennsylvania Department of General Services
Design and construction
Architect	George M. Ewing
Pennsylvania Historical Marker
Official name: Governor's Residence

The Pennsylvania Governor's Residence is the official residence of the Governor of Pennsylvania, in the Uptown neighborhood of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The neo-Georgian residence was built from 1966 to 1968 and designed by George M. Ewing, heading an architectural firm in Philadelphia. The mansion is currently only used for official functions and meetings, because Governor Tom Wolf commutes from his private residence in Mount Wolf.

The seven-bay brick front has a wide projecting pedimented central bay, in which a Palladian window perches on a pedimented doorway. The mansion is home to two Steinway grand pianos used for concerts and to entertain dinner guests. Every holiday season the house is opened for special tours.

The mansion is located adjacent to the Susquehanna River and flooding has proven to be a significant hazard. Water intrusion in the basement area is a frequent issue and the mansion has been evacuated three times since its construction due to serious inundation. The first and most serious time was during Hurricane Agnes in 1972 when then-Governor Milton Shapp and his wife Muriel had to be rescued by boat. The most recent was 2011 during Tropical Storm Lee.