Texas Governor’s Mansion
As the fourth-oldest continuously occupied governor’s residence in the United States, the Texas Governor’s Mansion has been the offical home of each of the forty Texas governors since 1856. Constructed by master builder Abner Cook , the Mansion is a fine example of the Greek Revival style and was built from Texas materials like long-leaf pine from Bastrop and brick made on the Colorado River. As the oldest building in the State Capitol Complex, the Governor’s Mansion has played a significant role in political and governmental events for more than 15 decades.
The home also stands as an historical repository of domestic life during the past 153 years. The Mansion’s history showcases technological change, changing taste in building interiors, the evolution of the role of women and changes in the daily routine of family life in the public arena. The Governor’s Mansion is the most historic home in Texas and is an architectural treasure.
2008: A fire nearly destroyed the Mansion in June 2008. In May 2009, $22 million was allocated to the restoration of the Governor's Mansion, $11 million of which came from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. An additional $3.4 million was raised through private fund raising. The restoration was completed in 2012.
