Utah Governor's Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thomas Kearns Mansion and Carriage House
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Governor's Mansion, March 2010
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | 603 East South Temple Street Salt Lake City, Utah United States |
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| 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 the official home for the governor of Utah and their family. It is also known as the Kearns Mansion. You can find it at 603 East South Temple Street in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. This beautiful building is part of the South Temple Historic District.
Building the Mansion
This grand house was finished in 1902. It was built for Thomas Kearns, who was a United States Senator and a very successful businessman in mining. A famous Utah architect named Carl M. Neuhausen designed the mansion. He also designed the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City.
The mansion was built with the best materials and by skilled workers. This made it as fancy and well-made as the large homes of wealthy families in the eastern United States. Senator Kearns used the mansion as his home and for important meetings. It was also a fun place for parties, with dancing and live music. Many important people, including President Theodore Roosevelt, visited the Kearns Mansion.
A Home for Governors
Senator Kearns passed away in 1918. In February 1937, his wife, Jennie Judge Kearns, gave the mansion to the State of Utah. She wanted it to be the official home for Utah's governors. For the next 20 years, governors lived there.
From 1957 to 1977, the mansion had a different purpose. The Utah Historical Society used it as a library, museum, and office space. But in 1977, Governor Scott Matheson suggested that the mansion should become the governor's home again. After a lot of work to fix it up, the mansion was ready for governors to live in by 1980.
Fire and Restoration
On December 15, 1993, a fire badly damaged the mansion. The fire started because of faulty wiring on a Christmas tree in the main hall. Governor Mike Leavitt was not home at the time. However, First Lady Jackie Leavitt and her staff quickly called the Salt Lake City Fire Department. Their fast response helped stop the fire from causing even more damage.
After the fire, a long and careful restoration project began. The goal was to make the mansion look just 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 home back to its original style. It also added modern safety features. These included a fire sprinkler system, new wiring, new plumbing, and a new heating and cooling system. A security system and upgrades to protect against earthquakes were also added.
The property is officially 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 mansion and a smaller building called the carriage house. Both are 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
