Virginia Governor's Mansion
Encyclopedia
The Virginia Governor's Mansion, better known as the Executive Mansion, is located in Richmond, Virginia
on Capitol Square and serves as the official residence of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
. Designed by Alexander Parris
, it is the oldest occupied governor's mansion in the United States
. It has served as the home of Virginia governors and their families since 1813. This mansion is both a Virginia
and a National Historic Landmark
, and has had a successive number of renovations and expansions during the 20th century. Adjacent and immediately north of Capitol Square is the Court End
neighborhood, which houses the White House of the Confederacy. During the Civil War
, Virginia's statehouse, also in Richmond, housed offices of the Confederacy.
The law that provided for the construction of the current building was signed on February 13, 1811, by James Monroe
with the building being completed in 1813. Monroe's term ended and he was succeeded by George William Smith
. Smith, however, was not the first governor to live in the mansion because he lost his life in the burning of the Richmond Theatre
saving others December 26, 1811. His successor, James Barbour
, was the first governor to live in the mansion. The term "mansion" was not used in the law that authorizing it to be built, but it has been used ever since.
During the Administration of Governor James S. Gilmore III the Mansion was renovated and expanded in an effort to restore the home to its historical appearance, but also to bring the Mansion into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide additional living space for the First Family.
Currently, Governor Bob McDonnell
occupies the mansion. His predecessor
's wife, Anne Holton
, lived in the mansion during the 1970s when her father, A. Linwood Holton Jr.
, was governor. (Thomas Jefferson's daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph
, known as "Patsy", was married to Virginia Governor Thomas Mann Randolph Jr.
, but never lived in the Mansion).
The Executive Mansion was featured on American Idol (season 5)
when Governor Tim Kaine and his wife Anne Holton welcomed Richmond-native and Idol-finalist Elliott Yamin
and his family to the mansion on national television.
The Mansion's most notable television appearance occurred on January 31, 2006, when recently-inaugurated Governor Tim Kaine delivered the Democratic response
to the 2006 State of the Union address. The address was delivered from the Mansion's historic ballroom.
Tours of the mansion are offered several days a week.
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
on Capitol Square and serves as the official residence of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
. Designed by Alexander Parris
Alexander Parris
Alexander Parris was a prominent American architect-engineer. Beginning as a housewright, he evolved into an architect whose work transitioned from Federal style architecture to the later Greek Revival. Parris taught Ammi B. Young, and was among the group of architects influential in founding what...
, it is the oldest occupied governor's mansion in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has served as the home of Virginia governors and their families since 1813. This mansion is both a Virginia
Virginia Landmarks Register
The Virginia Landmarks Register is a list of historic properties in the state of Virginia. The state's official list of important historic sites, it was created in 1966. The Register serves the same purpose as the National Register of Historic Places...
and a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, and has had a successive number of renovations and expansions during the 20th century. Adjacent and immediately north of Capitol Square is the Court End
Court End
thumb|250px|right|1000 block E. Clay StreetCourt End is a neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia that sits to the north of the Capitol Square and East Broad Street...
neighborhood, which houses the White House of the Confederacy. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Virginia's statehouse, also in Richmond, housed offices of the Confederacy.
History
When Richmond became the capital of Virginia during 1779, there was no residence for the governor, but Thomas Jefferson rented one. The state was so poor that they could not pay the rent in time, so they blamed Jefferson for the problem. The state finally paid their rent and built a residence for the governor on the site of the present building.The law that provided for the construction of the current building was signed on February 13, 1811, by James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
with the building being completed in 1813. Monroe's term ended and he was succeeded by George William Smith
George William Smith (politician)
George William Smith was Acting Governor of Virginia, briefly between the terms of John Tyler, Sr. and James Monroe in January 1811 and the 17th Governor of Virginia from April to December of the same year when Monroe resigned to become United States Secretary of State...
. Smith, however, was not the first governor to live in the mansion because he lost his life in the burning of the Richmond Theatre
Richmond Theatre fire
The 1811 Richmond Theatre fire occurred in Richmond, Virginia, United States on December 26, 1811. It devastated the Richmond Theatre, located on the north side of Broad Street between what is now Twelfth and College Streets. The fire, which killed 72 people including many government officials, was...
saving others December 26, 1811. His successor, James Barbour
James Barbour
James Barbour was an American lawyer, amember and speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, the 18th Governor of Virginia, the first Governor to reside in the current Virginia Governor's Mansion, a U.S. Senator from 1814–1825, and the United States Secretary of War from 1825-1828.Barbour was a...
, was the first governor to live in the mansion. The term "mansion" was not used in the law that authorizing it to be built, but it has been used ever since.
During the Administration of Governor James S. Gilmore III the Mansion was renovated and expanded in an effort to restore the home to its historical appearance, but also to bring the Mansion into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide additional living space for the First Family.
Currently, Governor Bob McDonnell
Bob McDonnell
Robert Francis "Bob" McDonnell is an American politician who has been the 71st Governor of Virginia since January 2010. A former lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, McDonnell served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1993 to 2006 and served as Attorney General of Virginia from 2006...
occupies the mansion. His predecessor
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
's wife, Anne Holton
Anne Holton
Anne Bright Holton is the wife of former Governor Tim Kaine, serving as First Lady of Virginia from 2006 to 2010.-Early life:Anne Holton was born in Roanoke, Virginia, and is the daughter of A. Linwood Holton, Jr., and Jinks Holton. In 1969, her father was elected as Governor of Virginia, serving...
, lived in the mansion during the 1970s when her father, A. Linwood Holton Jr.
A. Linwood Holton Jr.
Abner Linwood Holton, Jr. was the 61st Governor of Virginia, and the first Republican governor since Reconstruction. He was governor from 1970 to 1974...
, was governor. (Thomas Jefferson's daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph
Martha Jefferson Randolph
Martha Washington Jefferson Randolph was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, and his wife Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson. She was born in Monticello, near Charlottesville, Virginia and was named in honor of her mother and of Martha Washington, wife of...
, known as "Patsy", was married to Virginia Governor Thomas Mann Randolph Jr.
Thomas Mann Randolph Jr.
Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. was a planter, soldier, and politician from Virginia. He served as a member of both houses of the Virginia General Assembly, a Representative in the U.S. Congress, and as the 21st Governor of Virginia, from 1819-1822.He married Martha Jefferson, the oldest daughter of...
, but never lived in the Mansion).
The Executive Mansion was featured on American Idol (season 5)
American Idol (season 5)
The fifth season of American Idol began on January 17, 2006 and concluded on May 24, 2006. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell returned to judge, and Ryan Seacrest returned to host. It is the most successful season to date ratings-wise and also with 18 contestants getting record deals -...
when Governor Tim Kaine and his wife Anne Holton welcomed Richmond-native and Idol-finalist Elliott Yamin
Elliott Yamin
Elliott Yamin , born Efraym Elliott Yamin, is an American singer known for his hit single "Wait for You" and placing third on the fifth season of American Idol....
and his family to the mansion on national television.
The Mansion's most notable television appearance occurred on January 31, 2006, when recently-inaugurated Governor Tim Kaine delivered the Democratic response
Democratic response to 2006 State of the Union address
The response to the 2006 State of the Union Address was delivered by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine on January 31, 2006, after United States President George W. Bush delivered his 2006 State of the Union address. The theme of Kaine's speech, "A Better Way," advocates the Democratic Party's policies...
to the 2006 State of the Union address. The address was delivered from the Mansion's historic ballroom.
Tours of the mansion are offered several days a week.
Distinguished visitors to the mansion
- Prince of WalesPrince of WalesPrince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
(later became King Edward VIIEdward VII of the United KingdomEdward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
) - President Rutherford B. HayesRutherford B. HayesRutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
- President Grover ClevelandGrover ClevelandStephen 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...
- President William McKinleyWilliam McKinleyWilliam McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
- President Theodore RooseveltTheodore RooseveltTheodore "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...
- President William Howard TaftWilliam Howard TaftWilliam Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
- Arthur BalfourArthur BalfourArthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
(Lord Balfour) - Ferdinand FochFerdinand FochFerdinand Foch , GCB, OM, DSO was a French soldier, war hero, military theorist, and writer credited with possessing "the most original and subtle mind in the French army" in the early 20th century. He served as general in the French army during World War I and was made Marshal of France in its...
- Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
- Charles LindberghCharles LindberghCharles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
- Richard Evelyn ByrdRichard Evelyn ByrdRear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd, Jr., USN was a naval officer who specialized in feats of exploration. He was a pioneering American aviator, polar explorer, and organizer of polar logistics...
- Queen Elizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II of the United KingdomElizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...