Kentucky: Finance Cabinet - Old Governor's Mansion

Kentucky did not have an official governor's residence until the Kentucky General Assembly appropriated funds to provide houses to accommodate the governor in 1796. Construction was completed in 1798. The Old Governor's Mansion is reputed to be the oldest official executive residence still in use in the United States. Barely surviving fires and neglect, the house has undergone several style changes and a major renovation to the property which was completed in 2004.
Often referred to as the "Palace" in its early days, the mansion has always been distinguished by the hospitality of its occupants. The parlor and formal dining room have welcomed many United States presidents, officials of state and dignitaries including Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Jackson, Louis Philippe of France, Henry Clay, William Jennings Bryan and the Marquis de Lafayette. Exceptional pieces of antique and reproduction furniture and portraits of Kentucky's governors are displayed throughout the mansion.
Through numerous past repair campaigns, the facade of the mansion had lost its Federal look, which was "restored" during the recently completed renovation. New windows and front entry will better represent the Federal style along with the wood shingle room, a more appropriate roofing material. The interior received upgrades to the electrical and plumbing systems along with remodeled spaces on the second floor. The rear of the mansion received a new porch and entry way to align with the recent completion of the garden area. The first floor is now interpreted to a period no later than the 1840s with historically appropriate furnishings and colors.

Often referred to as the "Palace" in its early days, the mansion has always been distinguished by the hospitality of its occupants. The parlor and formal dining room have welcomed many United States presidents, officials of state and dignitaries including Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Jackson, Louis Philippe of France, Henry Clay, William Jennings Bryan and the Marquis de Lafayette. Exceptional pieces of antique and reproduction furniture and portraits of Kentucky's governors are displayed throughout the mansion. The Old Governor's Mansion is a National Register of the Historic Places site.

The Old Governor's Mansion is an integral contribution to Kentucky's architectural legacy, providing an impressive backdrop for much of Kentucky's political and social history.