Terrace Hill facts for kids
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Terrace Hill
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Terrace Hill in 2019
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2300 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Area | 8 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Built | 1866-69 |
| Architect | William W. Boyington, Jacob Weidenmann, JT Elletson |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000480 (NRHP) 03001036 (NHL) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 14, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | July 31, 2003 |
Terrace Hill is also known as the Hubbell Mansion or the Iowa Governor's Mansion. It is the official home of the governor of Iowa, United States. You can find it at 2300 Grand Avenue in Des Moines. This beautiful building is a great example of Second Empire style.
The house is very large, measuring about 18,000 square feet (1,600 m2). It sits on a hill, giving it a great view of downtown Des Moines. It even has a 90-foot (27 m) tall tower! The building's unique design includes a steep mansard roof, open porches, and many tall, narrow windows. Terrace Hill was named a National Historic Landmark in 2003.
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History of Terrace Hill
Terrace Hill was built by Benjamin Franklin Allen. He was Iowa's first millionaire. He wanted a grand home for his family. The architect for this big project was William Boyington from Chicago. Building started in 1866 and finished in 1869. The whole project cost $250,000. This included the Mansion, the Carriage House, all the furniture, and about 30 acres (120,000 m2) of land.
For its time, the house had very modern features. It had hot and cold running water, indoor bathrooms, an elevator, and gas lights. When it was first built, Terrace Hill was on the edge of Des Moines. But as the city grew, the house became almost in the center of town.
In 1884, a local businessman named F.M. Hubbell bought the mansion. He paid $60,000 for it.
Becoming the Governor's Home
From 1846 until 1947, Iowa's governors did not have an official home. In 1947, Iowa bought an old house for the governor. But by 1970, a new home was needed. This new home would host important visitors. The government thought about building a new house.
Then, the Hubbell family, who owned Terrace Hill, offered their home to the state. They wanted it to be the governor's residence. In 1976, Robert D. Ray became the first governor to live in Terrace Hill. He moved in with his wife and three daughters. Since then, other governors have lived there, including Terry Branstad, Tom Vilsack, Chet Culver, and Kim Reynolds.
Exploring the Governor's Home
Terrace Hill is located at 2300 Grand Avenue. Most visitors start their tour at the Carriage House. This building is now a welcome area for guests. It also has displays about the Hubbell family, who used to own the house.
The First Floor: Formal Spaces
The first floor of Terrace Hill is used for formal events. These rooms were often used to welcome important guests, and they still are today.
- The Vestibule: This is the entry area. In the past, a servant would greet guests here. The doors are very heavy, weighing over 200 pounds (90 kg) each.
- The Reception Room: Guests would wait here while their arrival was announced. The host or hostess would then greet them in this room.
- The Drawing Room: This room was once used for weddings and funerals. Today, it hosts important events, like entertaining visitors from other countries. It has a beautiful 7.5-foot (2.3 m) crystal chandelier.
- The Music Room: This room was for entertainment. Young women would often play music here. It has a special Steinway "Music Room Grand" piano from 1869. This is the same year the house was finished.
- The Dining Room: The previous owners used this room for fancy dinners. Today, it is still used for state dinners and receptions. Food is prepared in the kitchen downstairs.
- The Library: This room was a gathering place for the men of the house. It was also where books and knowledge were kept. You can see F. M. Hubbell's leather chair here. Since he was just over 5 feet (1.5 m) tall, the chair sits low to the floor.
- The Sitting Room: This was the family room in earlier times.
All these rooms are connected by the Main Hall. The ceilings in the hall are very high, at 14.5 feet (4.4 m). The Main Hall also has beautiful carpets and interesting portraits. Outside, there is a large porch that looks over downtown Des Moines. It is still used for parties sometimes.
The Second Floor: Offices and Art
At the end of the Main Hall, a grand staircase leads to the second floor. There's a landing in the middle of the stairs.
- Stained Glass Window: At the landing, you'll see a large stained glass window. It's often called a "garden in glass." This window is 9 by 13 feet (3 by 4 m) and fills the landing with colorful light. F. M. Hubbell added this window between 1884 and 1890.
After the landing, the staircase splits into two paths to the second floor. This floor used to have the family's bedrooms. Now, the governor's formal office is here. Their main working office is at the Capitol building. The office of the First Gentleman (or First Lady) is also on the second floor. This office is usually not part of tours. It is a working office for writing speeches and planning events.
The Third Floor and Basement: Private Areas
The Governor of Iowa and their family live in a private apartment on the third floor. This floor is not open for tours.
The basement is also not open to the public. The kitchen there prepares meals for special events. The basement also has a security office for the Iowa State Patrol. Troopers work there 24/7 to protect the governor and Terrace Hill.
Visiting Terrace Hill
Terrace Hill offers guided tours from Tuesdays through Saturdays. Tours start at 10:30 am and 12:00 pm. You need to make a reservation at least 48 hours in advance. The touring season runs from March through December.
See also
