President's House, Trinidad and Tobago
Encyclopedia
President's House is the official residence
of the President of Trinidad and Tobago
. The house is located next to the Botanical Gardens
in Port of Spain
, Trinidad
.
The house was built in 1876, however a previous building on the site, known as "The Cottage" was used as the Governor's residence from 1867. The stonework facade of the 1876 construction is made local blue limestone, while the roof is covered with Welsh Dutchess slate. The building contains Italian-style arched doorways and loggias, as well as Victorian-style columns and railings.
From 1876 the house continued to be used as the residence of the Governor of Trinidad and Tobago until 30 April 1958, when it became the residence of the Governor-General of the West Indies Federation
. Trinidad and Tobago attained independence on 31 August 1962. The house was then used as a museum and Art Gallery for a time, before the house became the residence of the Governors-General once again. When Trinidad and Tobago became a republic
in 1976, the Governor-General's house was subsequently designated as "The President's House", and became the residence of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Today, as well as being the President's private residence, the house is used for national awards and swearing-in ceremonies, as well as diplomatic receptions. The President's office is located in a separate building in the grounds of the house.
Official residence
An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
of the President of Trinidad and Tobago
President of Trinidad and Tobago
The President of Trinidad and Tobago is the head of state of Trinidad and Tobago, and the commander in chief of its armed forces. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1976, before which the head of state was Queen Elizabeth II...
. The house is located next to the Botanical Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Trinidad is located in Port of Spain. The Gardens, which were established in 1818, are situated just north of the Queen's Park Savannah. This is one of the oldest Botanic Gardens in the world. The landscaped site occupies 61.8 acres and contains some 700 trees.The...
in Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
, Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
.
The house was built in 1876, however a previous building on the site, known as "The Cottage" was used as the Governor's residence from 1867. The stonework facade of the 1876 construction is made local blue limestone, while the roof is covered with Welsh Dutchess slate. The building contains Italian-style arched doorways and loggias, as well as Victorian-style columns and railings.
From 1876 the house continued to be used as the residence of the Governor of Trinidad and Tobago until 30 April 1958, when it became the residence of the Governor-General of the West Indies Federation
West Indies Federation
The West Indies Federation, also known as the Federation of the West Indies, was a short-lived Caribbean federation that existed from January 3, 1958, to May 31, 1962. It consisted of several Caribbean colonies of the United Kingdom...
. Trinidad and Tobago attained independence on 31 August 1962. The house was then used as a museum and Art Gallery for a time, before the house became the residence of the Governors-General once again. When Trinidad and Tobago became a republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
in 1976, the Governor-General's house was subsequently designated as "The President's House", and became the residence of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Today, as well as being the President's private residence, the house is used for national awards and swearing-in ceremonies, as well as diplomatic receptions. The President's office is located in a separate building in the grounds of the house.