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Cedar Crest (mansion)
Encyclopedia
The Kansas Governor's Residence, also known as Cedar Crest, is the official residence of the governor of Kansas
. Built in 1928 and bequeathed to the state in 1955, it became the governor's residence in 1962.
Kansas did not have an official governor's residence until 1901 when the state bought 801 Buchanan Street (a house originally built in 1887). The property was auctioned off in 1963, and the building was demolished in 1964. Portions of the building including bay windows, an oak staircase and balcony were incorporated in the downtown Ramada Inn, which was built in another part of Topeka in 1964.
Cedar Crest is on a hilltop on the west side of Topeka overlooking the Kansas River
, and was designed by the architect
ural firm of Wight and Wight
in 1928 for Topeka State Journal and Emporia News newspaper publisher Frank P. MacLennan. MacLennan died in 1933; when his widow died in 1955, she bequeathed Cedar Crest to the state of Kansas with the condition it be utilized as a home for the governor of Kansas. The gift included 244 acres (98.7 ha) of surrounding land to be used as a park (now known as MacLennan Park). Since 1962 it has been used as the governor's residence.
It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places
in 1982.
During the 1990s, the mansion underwent a $4.4 million refurbishment program.
Governor of Kansas
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
. Built in 1928 and bequeathed to the state in 1955, it became the governor's residence in 1962.
Kansas did not have an official governor's residence until 1901 when the state bought 801 Buchanan Street (a house originally built in 1887). The property was auctioned off in 1963, and the building was demolished in 1964. Portions of the building including bay windows, an oak staircase and balcony were incorporated in the downtown Ramada Inn, which was built in another part of Topeka in 1964.
Cedar Crest is on a hilltop on the west side of Topeka overlooking the Kansas River
Kansas River
The Kansas River is a river in northeastern Kansas in the United States. It is the southwestern-most part of the Missouri River drainage, which is in turn the northwestern-most portion of the extensive Mississippi River drainage. Its name come from the Kanza people who once inhabited the area...
, and was designed by the architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
ural firm of Wight and Wight
Wight and Wight
Wight and Wight, known also as Wight & Wight, was an architecture firm in Kansas City, Missouri consisting of the brothers Thomas Wight and William Wight who designed several landmark buildings in Missouri and Kansas....
in 1928 for Topeka State Journal and Emporia News newspaper publisher Frank P. MacLennan. MacLennan died in 1933; when his widow died in 1955, she bequeathed Cedar Crest to the state of Kansas with the condition it be utilized as a home for the governor of Kansas. The gift included 244 acres (98.7 ha) of surrounding land to be used as a park (now known as MacLennan Park). Since 1962 it has been used as the governor's residence.
It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1982.
During the 1990s, the mansion underwent a $4.4 million refurbishment program.