When the new Capitol was being constructed, Governor Augustus E. Wilson told the state legislature that a new governor’s house was needed closer to the capitol. Within months, $75,000 was appropriated (the final cost was $95,000). The result is this Beaux Arts home inspired by Marie Antoinette’s villa, Petit Trianon, in Versailles, France. The residence, completed in 1914, has been the home to twenty-three governors. It has undergone two notable renovations: the first was spearheaded by First Lady Phyllis George (John Y. Brown, Jr.) and the second, of the ballroom, was led by First Lady Glenna Fletcher (Ernie Fletcher).
Although the gardens have taken many forms, the current layout is based on the original 1912 design. The first floor contains two reception rooms (one for the First Lady and one for the Governor), two dining rooms (one for the family, the other for state occasions), the family sitting room, and the ballroom (chandaliers are original to the home). Below are some additional pictures of the magnificent interior which I toured during the Capitol’s Centennial. At the time the photo was taken, the State Dining Room was to host former governors and other dignitaries for a luncheon within the hour.
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| Governor’s Reception Room |
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| Ballroom |
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| State Dining Room |
