Pennsylvania Governor's Residence

Governor's Residence
The entrance to the Governor's Residence in 2010.
Map
General information
Architectural styleGeorgian
Location2035 North Front Street,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
 United States
Coordinates40°16′39″N 76°53′55″W / 40.27750°N 76.89861°W / 40.27750; -76.89861
Construction startedDecember 1966
CompletedDecember 1968
InauguratedFebruary 1969
CostUS$2 million
ClientGovernor of Pennsylvania
OwnerPennsylvania Department of General Services
Design and construction
Architect(s)George M. Ewing
Website
Official Website
Official nameGovernor's Residence[1]

The Pennsylvania Governor's Residence is the official residence of the governor of Pennsylvania, in the Uptown neighborhood of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The neo-Georgian residence was built from 1966 to 1968 and designed by George M. Ewing, heading an architectural firm in Philadelphia.[2] The mansion was previously only used for official functions and meetings, because then-Governor Tom Wolf commuted from his private residence in nearby Mount Wolf.[3]

Incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro and his family currently reside in the Governor's Residence.

The seven-bay brick front has a wide projecting pedimented central bay, in which a Palladian window perches on a pedimented doorway. The mansion is home to two Steinway grand pianos used for concerts and to entertain dinner guests. Every holiday season the house is opened for special tours.

The mansion is located adjacent to the Susquehanna River and flooding has proven to be a significant hazard. Water intrusion in the basement area is a frequent issue and the mansion has been evacuated three times since its construction due to serious inundation. The first and most serious time was during Hurricane Agnes in 1972; then-Governor Milton Shapp and his wife Muriel evacuated for the weekend and returned by boat to inspect the flooded damage in a common photograph at the time.[4] The most recent was 2011 during Tropical Storm Lee.

In 2021, following years of planning, a $1.9 million renovation began on the courtyard to restore more greenspace, amenities, and accessibility.[5]

References

  1. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers Search". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on March 21, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "History". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  3. ^ McKelvey, Wallace (December 9, 2014). "Governor's Residence to remain open, even as Tom Wolf plans commute to Harrisburg". Harrisburg Patriot-News. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  4. ^ "Tropical Storm Agnes devastated Pa. in 1972: 'Battered, lashed, flooded and paralyzed'". pennlive. June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  5. ^ "$1.9 million renovations to courtyard of Governor's Residence aims to make it 'more welcoming to all'". pennlive. November 11, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2022.