Wisconsin Governor's Mansion
Encyclopedia
The Executive Residence, known better as the Governor's Mansion, is located at 99 Cambridge Road in the Village of Maple Bluff, Wisconsin
on the eastern shore of Lake Mendota
. It is only one of four official state governor's residences in the country that is not located within its state's capital (the others being "Drumthwacket
," located in Princeton, New Jersey
instead of Trenton
, Ohio Governor's Mansion
, located in the suburb of Bexley
instead of Columbus
, and Tennessee Governor's Mansion
, located in Oak Hill
instead of Nashville, Tennessee
).
Construction was started during 1920 for Madison industrialist Carl A. Johnson as a home. Twelve years later, it was purchased by Thomas R. Hefty, a Madison banker, who sold it to the State during 1949 for $47,500. Governors of Wisconsin, and their families, have resided in the residence ever since.
Architect Frank Riley of Madison, Wisconsin
designed the mansion in the southern Classical Revival style. The Residence sits on 3.7 acres (14,973.4 m²) along Lake Mendota. Although it was renovated extensively during the 1960s, the Residence now is much as Johnson planned originally. The more than 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²) of living space include 34 rooms, 13 bathrooms and 7 bedrooms and fireplaces. Several items of Wisconsin historical interest may be found throughout the Executive Residence. The wrought-iron fence on the street side of the property originally surrounded the old State Capitol Building. The mansion is wood framed structure with painted stucco over sandstone and hollow clay tile face. It is three stories high and has a basement level for a total of 20,777 gross square feet. There are 7 major garden areas, including a screened-in gazebo and winding walkways that lead to the lake shore.
is the 14th governor to live in the Executive Residence.
Public tours are offered every Thursday during the months of April through August from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Holiday tours are also offered during December.
There is no charge for admission. Groups of 20 or more are required to make a reservation.
requested the installation of solar panels on the side roof of the governor's mansion. The plan was approved by a board that handles building projects. The panels power the hot water heater for the residence.
The Wisconsin Executive Residence Foundation, a non-profit, raises money to pay for maintenance that SCERB is unable or unwilling to spend state tax dollars on. The Wisconsin Executive Residence Foundation was established during 1964 by act of the Wisconsin Legislature
at the request of Dorothy Knowles, the wife of Governor Warren Knowles. She said at the time " the place was a firetrap, we were afraid to move in." After the establishment of the foundation, the Residence received its first major renovation since its purchase during 1949. Each First Lady
of the state is ex-officio chairman of the foundation's board.
Maple Bluff, Wisconsin
Maple Bluff is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,358 at the 2000 census. It is a suburb of Madison and is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area....
on the eastern shore of Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota is the northernmost and largest of the four lakes near Madison, Wisconsin. The lake borders Madison on the north, east and south, Middleton on the west, Shorewood Hills on the southwest, Maple Bluff on the northeast, and Westport on the northwest....
. It is only one of four official state governor's residences in the country that is not located within its state's capital (the others being "Drumthwacket
Drumthwacket
Drumthwacket is the official residence of the governor of New Jersey. The mansion is located at 354 Stockton Street in Princeton, New Jersey, close to the state capital of Trenton...
," located in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
instead of Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, Ohio Governor's Mansion
Ohio Governor's Mansion
The Ohio Governor's Residence and Heritage Garden is the official residence of the Governor of Ohio. The residence was built during 1923–1925 by industrialist Malcolm D. Jeffrey and has served as the official home of the governor since 1957...
, located in the suburb of Bexley
Bexley, Ohio
Bexley is an affluent suburban city in Franklin County, Ohio. Founded as a village over a hundred years ago, the City of Bexley is an old, tree-lined suburb of Columbus, the state capital of Ohio, situated on the banks of Alum Creek next to Driving Park and Wolfe Park, just east of the Franklin...
instead of Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, and Tennessee Governor's Mansion
Tennessee Governor's Mansion
The Tennessee Governor's Mansion, located in Nashville, Tennessee, is the official residence of the Governor of Tennessee and his family. This Georgian-style mansion was built for William Ridley Wills and his family in 1929; the state purchased it in 1949 and it has served as the home of...
, located in Oak Hill
Oak Hill, Tennessee
Oak Hill is a city in Davidson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 4,493 at the 2000 census. The Tennessee governor's mansion is located in the city...
instead of Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
).
Construction was started during 1920 for Madison industrialist Carl A. Johnson as a home. Twelve years later, it was purchased by Thomas R. Hefty, a Madison banker, who sold it to the State during 1949 for $47,500. Governors of Wisconsin, and their families, have resided in the residence ever since.
Architect Frank Riley of Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
designed the mansion in the southern Classical Revival style. The Residence sits on 3.7 acres (14,973.4 m²) along Lake Mendota. Although it was renovated extensively during the 1960s, the Residence now is much as Johnson planned originally. The more than 16000 square feet (1,486.4 m²) of living space include 34 rooms, 13 bathrooms and 7 bedrooms and fireplaces. Several items of Wisconsin historical interest may be found throughout the Executive Residence. The wrought-iron fence on the street side of the property originally surrounded the old State Capitol Building. The mansion is wood framed structure with painted stucco over sandstone and hollow clay tile face. It is three stories high and has a basement level for a total of 20,777 gross square feet. There are 7 major garden areas, including a screened-in gazebo and winding walkways that lead to the lake shore.
Public access
An estimated 20,000 visitors a year pass through the doors for receptions, dinners, meetings, and public tours. Governor Scott WalkerScott Walker (politician)
Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...
is the 14th governor to live in the Executive Residence.
Public tours are offered every Thursday during the months of April through August from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Holiday tours are also offered during December.
There is no charge for admission. Groups of 20 or more are required to make a reservation.
Solar power
In 2009, then Governor Jim DoyleJim Doyle
James Edward "Jim" Doyle is a Wisconsin politician and member of the Democratic Party. He was the 44th Governor of Wisconsin, serving from January 6, 2003 to January 3, 2011. He defeated incumbent Governor Scott McCallum by a margin of 45 percent to 41 percent; the Libertarian Party candidate Ed...
requested the installation of solar panels on the side roof of the governor's mansion. The plan was approved by a board that handles building projects. The panels power the hot water heater for the residence.
Administration
The building is administered by the State Capital & Executive Residence Board (SCERB), which must approve the annual maintenance budget and major capital improvements. The 16-member State Capitol Executive Residence Board includes 7 citizen members with specified expertise appointed by the governor to serve staggered 6-year terms. The purpose of the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board is to: "direct the continuing and consistent maintenance of the property, decorative furniture and furnishings of the Capitol and Executive Residence". The staff of the Residence are part of the Wisconsin Department of Administration's Capital Bureau Building Management team. An on-site Capital Police detail guards the building year-round.The Wisconsin Executive Residence Foundation, a non-profit, raises money to pay for maintenance that SCERB is unable or unwilling to spend state tax dollars on. The Wisconsin Executive Residence Foundation was established during 1964 by act of the Wisconsin Legislature
Wisconsin Legislature
The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house Wisconsin Senate and the lower Wisconsin Assembly...
at the request of Dorothy Knowles, the wife of Governor Warren Knowles. She said at the time " the place was a firetrap, we were afraid to move in." After the establishment of the foundation, the Residence received its first major renovation since its purchase during 1949. Each First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of the state is ex-officio chairman of the foundation's board.