West Virginia Governor's Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
West Virginia Governor's Mansion
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 |
|
 Location in West Virginia
|
|
| Location | 1716 Kanawha Blvd., Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States |
|---|---|
| Area | 21,000 square feet (2,000 m2) |
| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | Walter F. Martens |
| Architectural style | Georgian Colonial |
| Part of | West Virginia Capitol Complex (ID74002009) |
| Added to NRHP | December 31, 1974 |
The West Virginia Governor's Mansion is the official home for the governor of West Virginia. It sits right next to the Kanawha River in Charleston, West Virginia. This important building is also known as the West Virginia Executive Mansion.
Contents
The Governor's Mansion: A Special Home
This beautiful building was finished in 1925. It was designed by an architect from Charleston named Walter F. Martens. The mansion is part of the West Virginia Capitol Complex. This complex also includes the West Virginia State Capitol building.
What Does It Look Like?
The mansion has a classic style called Colonial Revival or Georgian Revival. It has a red brick outside. At the main entrance, there's a grand porch with columns, called a portico.
A Look Inside
When you step inside, the entrance area, called the foyer, might remind you of the White House. It has cool black and white marble floors that look like a checkerboard. There are also two staircases.
On the first floor, you'll find several important rooms. These include a drawing room (a formal living room), a ballroom for dances, and a state dining room. There's also a library and a sitting room for relaxing.
The second floor is where the governor and their family live. The third floor has more bedrooms for guests. In total, the mansion has 30 rooms! Outside, there are pretty walled gardens, a separate garage, and living areas for staff.
When it was first built, the mansion cost about $203,000. This included the land, building, and furniture.
History of the Governor's Mansion
Before this mansion, West Virginia governors had to find their own places to live. That changed in 1893. The state bought its first Governor's Mansion for $22,000. This was helped by Governor Aretas B. Fleming.
The First Mansion
The first governor to live in the purchased mansion was William MacCorkle. This old mansion was a large, white, two-story wooden house. It was built in the Queen Anne style. It was originally a private home for local business people. Eight different governors lived there between 1893 and 1925.
Building a New Home
On January 3, 1921, the old state capitol building in Charleston was destroyed by a fire. Because of this, the West Virginia Legislature created a special group called the "Capitol Building Commission." This group had seven members.
On July 23, 1921, Cass Gilbert was chosen to lead the building of a new state complex. This complex would include both a new capitol building and a new governor's mansion. The spot for the complex was picked on December 20, 1921.
Work on the complex began on January 7, 1924. The entire state capitol building was finished in 1932.
Designing the Mansion
The land for the new mansion was bought on July 7, 1921, for $64,270. Construction started in 1924 and ended in 1925. Local architect Walter F. Martens oversaw the work. He didn't design the capitol building, but he worked closely with Cass Gilbert.
Martens traveled to New York City to talk with Gilbert about the designs. Both wanted the mansion to be in the Georgian style. Martens also visited the White House to get ideas. This visit helped him learn how to design a floor plan that could handle many guests, sometimes as many as 2,000 people at once!
Early Occupants and Changes
The first governor to live in the new mansion was Ephraim F. Morgan. He had suggested building a new home for the governor. However, he only lived there for one week because his term ended in 1925.
In 1926, more additions were made. These included living quarters for staff above the garage and private gardens. The mansion has been updated several times over the years. Major redecorations happened in 1937 and 1958.
The original plans for the mansion included a third story. This was finally added in 1946. Before that, the second floor had a tin roof, which was then replaced with a slate one.
Modern Renovations
From 1965 to 1969, during Governor Hulett C. Smith's time, the mansion had a big renovation. About $300,000 was spent to improve the building and keep its historic look.
Later, in 1985, First Lady Shelley Riley Moore started a foundation. This group helped raise money to keep the mansion's inside and furniture in good shape.
In 2005, Governor Joe Manchin decided the mansion needed more repairs. These efforts cost about $1.2 million and used private donations. In 2006, there was a plan to add a large banquet hall. This hall would hold 335 guests and connect to the mansion. It would also have space for the governor's security team. By July 2006, the total cost of renovations had gone over $3 million.
