New York State Executive Mansion
Encyclopedia
The New York State Executive Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of New York. Located at 138 Eagle Street in Albany
, New York
, it has housed 31 governors and their families. The Italianate building was constructed in 1856 as a banker's private home. Samuel Tilden became the first governor to reside in the house in 1875, and the state purchased it two years later.
Over the years, various governors have affected the residence. Theodore Roosevelt
, for example, had a gym
nasium constructed during his stay. Franklin Roosevelt installed a swimming pool
in 1932. It was subsequently filled in when its building was converted into a greenhouse
, but Mario Cuomo
had the pool restored during his tenure. Alfred E. Smith had a zoo built, and Nelson Rockefeller
added the mansion's tennis court
s. Twenty-nine consecutive governors had used the building on a mostly full-time basis until Governor George Pataki
.
After a fire in 1961 the possibility of building or purchasing a newer modern mansion uptown was considered, but Governor Nelson Rockefeller fought for restoration and was instrumental in getting the mansion named to the National Register of Historic Places. In the early 1980s, the Executive Mansion Preservation Society was established to coordinate restoration of the home.
In April 2009 Michelle Paige Paterson
, wife of Governor Paterson, announced that as a result of efforts to "green" the operations and maintenance of the building and grounds, the mansion had earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) Gold certification from the US Green Building Council. The mansion is the first governor's residence in the country to earn Gold status using the LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) rating system. The project encompassed almost two years and was initiated by previous First Lady Silda Wall Spitzer
.
The Executive Mansion has been the home of three men who became president (Grover Cleveland
, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Roosevelt), two who became vice president (Levi Morton and Nelson Rockefeller), and four presidential nominees (Samuel Tilden, Charles Evans Hughes
, Al Smith, and Thomas Dewey
).
Free guided tours of the Executive Mansion are given on Thursdays from September to June at 12:00, 1:00, and 2:00 p.m. by reservation only. Tours for school groups are also offered.
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, it has housed 31 governors and their families. The Italianate building was constructed in 1856 as a banker's private home. Samuel Tilden became the first governor to reside in the house in 1875, and the state purchased it two years later.
Over the years, various governors have affected the residence. Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, for example, had a gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium constructed during his stay. Franklin Roosevelt installed a swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
in 1932. It was subsequently filled in when its building was converted into a greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
, but Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
had the pool restored during his tenure. Alfred E. Smith had a zoo built, and Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
added the mansion's tennis court
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
s. Twenty-nine consecutive governors had used the building on a mostly full-time basis until Governor George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
.
After a fire in 1961 the possibility of building or purchasing a newer modern mansion uptown was considered, but Governor Nelson Rockefeller fought for restoration and was instrumental in getting the mansion named to the National Register of Historic Places. In the early 1980s, the Executive Mansion Preservation Society was established to coordinate restoration of the home.
In April 2009 Michelle Paige Paterson
Michelle Paige Paterson
Michelle R. Paige Paterson was the First Lady of New York state. The wife of New York Governor David Paterson, she became the First Lady on March 17, 2008, when her husband was sworn in as Governor, following the resignation of Eliot Spitzer...
, wife of Governor Paterson, announced that as a result of efforts to "green" the operations and maintenance of the building and grounds, the mansion had earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
(LEED) Gold certification from the US Green Building Council. The mansion is the first governor's residence in the country to earn Gold status using the LEED for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) rating system. The project encompassed almost two years and was initiated by previous First Lady Silda Wall Spitzer
Silda Wall Spitzer
Silda Alice Wall Spitzer is the founder and chair of the board of Children for Children, a not-for-profit organization that fosters community involvement and social responsibility in young people...
.
The Executive Mansion has been the home of three men who became president (Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Roosevelt), two who became vice president (Levi Morton and Nelson Rockefeller), and four presidential nominees (Samuel Tilden, Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes, Sr. was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican politician from New York. He served as the 36th Governor of New York , Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States , United States Secretary of State , a judge on the Court of International Justice , and...
, Al Smith, and Thomas Dewey
Thomas Dewey
Thomas Edmund Dewey was the 47th Governor of New York . In 1944 and 1948, he was the Republican candidate for President, but lost both times. He led the liberal faction of the Republican Party, in which he fought conservative Ohio Senator Robert A. Taft...
).
Free guided tours of the Executive Mansion are given on Thursdays from September to June at 12:00, 1:00, and 2:00 p.m. by reservation only. Tours for school groups are also offered.