Texas Governor's Mansion facts for kids
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Texas Governor's Mansion
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The Texas Governor's Mansion in 2006.
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 Location in Texas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1010 Colorado St., Austin, Texas, USA |
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| Built | 1854 |
| Architect | Abner Cook |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000896 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 25, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | December 2, 1974 |
The Texas Governor's Mansion is a very old and important house in downtown Austin, Texas. It is the official home for the governor of Texas. A famous architect named Abner Cook designed this beautiful building. It was built in 1854 and has been the home of every Texas governor since 1856. Today, Governor Greg Abbott and First Lady Cecilia Phalen Abbott live there.
In 2008, while the mansion was being fixed up, it was badly damaged by a fire that was started on purpose.
Contents
History of the Mansion
The Governor's Mansion is the oldest house in Texas that people have lived in without stopping. It is also one of the oldest governor's homes in the entire United States that has always been used by a state leader. In 1962, it became the very first "Texas historic landmark." This means it was recognized as a very important historical place in Texas.
Later, in 1970, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places across the country that are important to history. Then, in 1974, it was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark, which is an even higher honor!
Design and Changes Over Time
Original Look and Size
The mansion was built by Abner Cook in a style called Greek Revival. This style often uses tall columns and looks like ancient Greek temples. The building was finished in 1856. It sits in the middle of a city block, surrounded by pretty trees and gardens.
When it was first built, the mansion was about 6,000 square feet (560 m2) in size. It had 11 rooms, but no bathrooms!
Growing Bigger and Better
In 1914, the mansion was made much larger. Its size increased to about 8,920 square feet (829 m2). After this update, it had 25 rooms and seven bathrooms, which was a big change!
In 1931, a group called the Board of Mansion Supervisors was created. Their job was to make sure the mansion was always well-cared for, both inside and out. This group was later replaced in 1965 by the Texas Commission on the Arts, which took over the responsibility of looking after the mansion.
The 2008 Fire and Restoration
What Happened During the Fire
On June 8, 2008, a fire badly damaged the mansion. The fire started very early in the morning and was caused by someone on purpose. At the time, Governor Rick Perry and his wife Anita Thigpen Perry were not in Texas. They had moved out in October 2007 because the mansion was going through a big renovation project. This project, which cost about $10 million, had started in January 2008. The plans for the renovation even included adding a fire safety system.
Investigators quickly found evidence that the fire was started on purpose. They worked hard to find out who was responsible for damaging the 152-year-old building.
Bringing the Mansion Back to Life
The investigation into the fire continued for several years. Even though some people were looked at as possibly being involved, no one was ever charged with a crime for starting the fire.
In May 2009, money was set aside to fix the mansion. About $22 million was used for the restoration. A large part of this money, $11 million, came from a special government fund to help the economy. People also helped by raising an additional $3.4 million through private donations. The hard work of restoring the mansion was completed in 2012, bringing this historic home back to its former glory.
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