Texas Governor’s Mansion
Stately - by guided tour only
Serious state history and architecture buffs might enjoy a guided tour of the oldest governors mansion west of the Mississippi River.
Home to every Texas governor since 1856, the Governor’s Mansion was closed in Fall of 2007 for maintenance and its contents placed in storage.
This turned out to be a lucky move since an arsonist set the building ablaze in the Summer of 2008. While the mansion sustained considerable damage, a four-year-long reconstruction has since restored its grandeur.
Built by self-taught master builder Abner Cook, the Greek-revival Governor’s Mansion sits near the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds.