Louisiana Governor's Mansion
Encyclopedia
The Louisiana Governor's Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of Louisiana and his or her family. The Governor’s Mansion was built in 1963 when Jimmie Davis
was Governor of Louisiana. The Mansion overlooks Capital Lake near the Louisiana State Capitol
in Baton Rouge
. Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal
, and his family currently reside in the mansion.
The Mansion was designed by the architectural firm of Annan and Gilmer of Shreveport, Louisiana. The final construction cost for the building was $893,843.00. The inspiration for the exterior design was Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, Louisiana. Like many plantation homes built between 1830 and 1860, Oak Alley was designed with a second story veranda.
The second-floor veranda found at Oak Alley was omitted. It was thought that the concept of a second story veranda was too informal for a Governor’s Mansion. Although the new Mansion is in the Greek Revival style, it also incorporates several Georgian features such as dormers, a fanlight
of the doorway at the front entrance, and the long window on the circular stairs in the rotunda.
Inside, the floor plan includes twelve bedrooms and eighteen baths, two kitchens and one kitchenette, two dining rooms, one breakfast room, a receiving room for state affairs and another for routine business, a living room, a sitting room, two butleries and two security stations for the state troopers
assigned to the mansion, and two offices-one for the governor and one for a secretary. Along with the dramatic spiral stairway in the rotunda, there is an elevator running from the basement to the third floor, as well as a system of dumbwaiters. These are wise amenities, considering the size of the house: altogether, the mansion comprises some twenty-five thousand square feet, serviced by a ninety ton cooling system to battle Louisiana's oppressive summer weather. The main foyer at the mansion features a mural that depicts various aspects of Louisiana History as well as symbolic references to many past Louisiana Governors. This mural was originally painted in the year 2000 under the administration of Governor Mike Foster. It was most recently updated with symbolic references relating to Hurricane Katrina
and then Governor Kathleen Blanco
.
White Doric columns line the building on three sides. The columns are interrupted on the east side by a driveway leading to an underground garage. The exterior of the building is constructed of hand-molded brick that has been painted white. The roof is made of cleft- face Vermont non-fading, gray-green slate. Front and side porches are of the same type of slate. Lamp posts located in the parking lot east of the building were once gas lights used in Plymouth, England. The cast iron railing atop the driveway retaining walls and at the second story windows was designed from the railing used on the old Beauregard House on Chartres Street in New Orleans and was modified with the diamond pattern by the architect.
The mansion sits on an 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) parcel of land. The grounds include a tennis court, a swimming pool, a vegetable garden, and a fountain area.
The Governor's Mansion is located at 1001 Capitol Access Road (LA-3045) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802. The mansion is open to the public for tours by appointment only.
Jimmie Davis
James Houston Davis , better known as Jimmie Davis, was a noted singer of both sacred and popular songs who served two nonconsecutive terms as the 47th Governor of Louisiana...
was Governor of Louisiana. The Mansion overlooks Capital Lake near the Louisiana State Capitol
Louisiana State Capitol
The Louisiana State Capitol building is the capitol building of the state of Louisiana, located in Baton Rouge. The capitol houses the Louisiana State Legislature, the governor's office, and parts of the executive branch...
in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
, and his family currently reside in the mansion.
The second-floor veranda found at Oak Alley was omitted. It was thought that the concept of a second story veranda was too informal for a Governor’s Mansion. Although the new Mansion is in the Greek Revival style, it also incorporates several Georgian features such as dormers, a fanlight
Fanlight
A fanlight is a window, semicircular or semi-elliptical in shape, with glazing bars or tracery sets radiating out like an open fan, It is placed over another window or a doorway. and is sometimes hinged to a transom. The bars in the fixed glazed window spread out in the manner a sunburst...
of the doorway at the front entrance, and the long window on the circular stairs in the rotunda.
Inside, the floor plan includes twelve bedrooms and eighteen baths, two kitchens and one kitchenette, two dining rooms, one breakfast room, a receiving room for state affairs and another for routine business, a living room, a sitting room, two butleries and two security stations for the state troopers
Louisiana State Police
The Louisiana State Police is the state police department of Louisiana, which has jurisdiction anywhere in the state, headquartered in Baton Rouge. It was created to protect the lives, property and constitutional rights of people in Louisiana. It falls under the authority of the Louisiana...
assigned to the mansion, and two offices-one for the governor and one for a secretary. Along with the dramatic spiral stairway in the rotunda, there is an elevator running from the basement to the third floor, as well as a system of dumbwaiters. These are wise amenities, considering the size of the house: altogether, the mansion comprises some twenty-five thousand square feet, serviced by a ninety ton cooling system to battle Louisiana's oppressive summer weather. The main foyer at the mansion features a mural that depicts various aspects of Louisiana History as well as symbolic references to many past Louisiana Governors. This mural was originally painted in the year 2000 under the administration of Governor Mike Foster. It was most recently updated with symbolic references relating to Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
and then Governor Kathleen Blanco
Kathleen Blanco
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco was the 54th Governor of Louisiana, having served from January 2004 until January 2008. She was the first woman to be elected to the office of governor of Louisiana....
.
The mansion sits on an 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) parcel of land. The grounds include a tennis court, a swimming pool, a vegetable garden, and a fountain area.
The Governor's Mansion is located at 1001 Capitol Access Road (LA-3045) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802. The mansion is open to the public for tours by appointment only.