Utah Governor's Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Thomas Kearns Mansion and Carriage House
|
|
Governor's Mansion, March 2010
|
|
 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 603 East South Temple Street Salt Lake City, Utah United States |
|---|---|
| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
| Built | 1900-02 |
| Architect | Neuhausen, Carl M. |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000631 |
| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1970 |
The Utah Governor's Mansion is a very important house in Salt Lake City, Utah. It's also called the Kearns Mansion. This beautiful building is where the governor of Utah and their family live. It's their official home! You can find it at 603 East South Temple Street.
Contents
Building the Governor's Home
This amazing house was finished in 1902. It was built for a man named Thomas Kearns. He was a United States Senator and a very rich mining owner. A famous Utah architect, Carl M. Neuhausen, designed the mansion. He also designed the beautiful Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City.
The mansion was built with the best materials. Only the most skilled workers were hired. This made the house as grand as homes built for very wealthy families in the eastern United States. Families like the Vanderbilts and Carnegies had similar fancy houses. The mansion was not just a home for Senator Kearns. It was also a place where he did official business. He also hosted many fun parties there. Guests would dance and listen to live music. Important political leaders and religious figures visited the Kearns mansion. Even President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a friend of Senator Kearns, was a guest.
A House with a Long History
Senator Kearns passed away in 1918. In 1937, his wife, Jennie Judge Kearns, gave the mansion to the State of Utah. She had one important rule: the house had to be the Governor's Residence. For the next 20 years, Utah's governors lived in the mansion.
From 1957 to 1977, the Utah Historical Society used the mansion. It was a library, a museum, and office space. In 1977, Governor Scott Matheson suggested a change. He wanted the mansion to be the governor's home again. After a lot of work to fix it up, the mansion became a residence once more in 1980.
The Fire and Restoration
On December 15, 1993, something scary happened. A fire started in the mansion. It was caused by faulty wiring on the Christmas tree in the main hall. Governor Mike Leavitt was not home at the time. But First Lady Jackie Leavitt and her team quickly called the fire department. Their fast actions saved the mansion from even worse damage.
A long and careful restoration project began. The goal was to make the mansion look like it did in 1902. Workers tried to save as much of the original inside as possible. The restoration cost $7.8 million. It brought the house back to its original style. It also added many modern safety features. These included a fire sprinkler system, new wiring, and new plumbing. There were also new heating and cooling systems, a security system, and earthquake upgrades.
The mansion is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It is called the Thomas Kearns Mansion and Carriage House. This listing includes both the main house and a smaller building called the carriage house. They are both on the same 9-acre property.
More to Explore
- List of governors' residences in the United States
- South Temple Historic District
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Salt Lake City
