Wisconsin Governor's Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wisconsin Governor's Mansion |
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Wisconsin Governor's Executive Residence front entrance in winter.
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Address | 99 Cambridge Road Madison, Wisconsin U.S. |
| Coordinates | 43°6′31.20″N 89°22′11.32″W / 43.1086667°N 89.3698111°W |
| Current tenants | Tony Evers & Kathy Evers |
| Construction started | 1921 |
| Completed | 1928 |
| Owner | State of Wisconsin |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Frank M. Riley |
The Executive Residence, often called the Governor's Mansion, is the official home of Wisconsin's governor. It's located at 99 Cambridge Road in Maple Bluff, Wisconsin. This village is a suburb of Madison, the state capital. The mansion sits right on the eastern shore of Lake Mendota. Currently, Governor Tony Evers lives there with his family.
The Wisconsin Governor's Mansion is special because it's one of only four governor's homes in the United States that isn't inside the state capital city itself. However, all these homes are still in the same county as the capital. Other examples include the governor's homes in New Jersey, Ohio, and Tennessee.
Contents
History of the Governor's Home
Building the Mansion
Construction on the mansion began in 1920. It was first built as a private home for Carl A. Johnson, a businessman from Madison. Years later, in 1932, a banker named Thomas R. Hefty bought the house.
Becoming the Governor's Residence
In 1949, the State of Wisconsin bought the house from Mr. Hefty for $47,500. Since 1950, Wisconsin's governors and their families have lived in this home. Before that, they lived in a different building called the Old Executive Mansion.
Design and Features
The mansion was designed by architect Frank M. Riley from Madison. He used a style called Classical Revival, which looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. The home sits on about 3.7 acres (1.5 hectares) of land right by Lake Mendota.
Even though it was updated a lot in the 1960s, the mansion still looks much like it did when it was first built. It has more than 16,000 square feet (1,486 square meters) of living space. Inside, you'll find 34 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 7 bedrooms, and several fireplaces.
Many items with Wisconsin history are kept inside the Executive Residence. For example, the fancy iron fence along the street used to be around the old State Capitol Building. The mansion is made of wood with painted stucco over sandstone and clay tiles. It has three stories and a basement. Outside, there are 10 main garden areas, including a screened-in gazebo and paths leading to the lake.
Visiting the Governor's Mansion
Public Tours and Events
About 20,000 people visit the Governor's Mansion each year. They come for special events, dinners, meetings, and public tours. Governor Tony Evers is the 15th governor to live in this home.
There is no cost to visit the mansion. If you have a group of 20 or more people, you need to make a reservation ahead of time. Public visits to the mansion have been limited recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Solar Power at the Mansion
In 2009, Governor Jim Doyle asked for solar panels to be put on the side roof of the mansion. A special board that handles building projects approved the idea. These solar panels help heat the water for the residence, using energy from the sun.
Managing the Governor's Home
Who Takes Care of It?
The State Capitol & Executive Residence Board (SCERB) helps manage the building. This board must approve the yearly budget for keeping the mansion in good shape. They also approve any big projects to improve the building. The board has 16 members, including 7 citizens who are experts in different areas. These citizens are chosen by the governor.
The main goal of this board is to make sure the Capitol and the Executive Residence are always well-maintained. The people who work at the Residence are part of the Wisconsin Department of Administration. Police officers from the Wisconsin Capitol Police also guard the building all year long.
The Residence Foundation
The Wisconsin Executive Residence Foundation is a non-profit group. This means they raise money to help pay for maintenance that the state might not cover with tax dollars. The foundation was started in 1964. Dorothy Knowles, who was the wife of Governor Warren Knowles, asked for it to be created. She felt the house needed a lot of work at the time.
After the foundation was created, the Residence had its first major renovation since the state bought it in 1949. The governor's spouse (the governor's husband or wife) is usually the head of the foundation's board.
See also
- Old Governor's Mansion (Madison, Wisconsin)
