California’s Governor’s Mansions

Family, Diplomacy and Politics

February 15^th through June 30^th,2000

Exhibit Overview

This exhibit will examine the historic and present struggle that California has undergone in efforts to establish a permanent Governor’s Mansion that meets the needs of the State and the Governor. It will cover three main sections: 1)residences that weren’t completed or were never occupied, 2)the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park, which served as the official residence from 1903-1967, and 3)the recently established commission which is currently overseeing the planning and creation of a Governor’s permanent residence.

Exhibit Outline

Past Efforts

This section of the exhibit will examine the various unsuccessful attempts that have been made to establish an official residence for the Governor of California. It will include a display of architectural blueprints and perspective drawings of mansions that were never completed or occupied. A presentation of failed legislation and other attempts at establishing a permanent Governor’s Mansion will further educate visitors on the struggle that surrounds the establishment of a permanent residence for California’s Governor.

Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park

The Governors’ Mansion State Historic Park was the only official residence occupied by several governors, so it will be the primary focus of the exhibit. The multi-faceted function of a governor’s mansion—as a place for family, diplomacy, and politics—will be interpreted. Photographs and quotations will illustrate family life in the mansion. Invitations, artifacts and images will show the diplomatic function of the mansion. The exhibit will examine how entertaining visiting dignitaries in a variety of settings was difficult due to the limitations of a Victorian design. The mansion’s unique function as a center of state politics will also be considered through photographs, quotes and text. Additionally, the issues of changing tastes through several decades of residency will be represented through a series of vignettes showing changes in furnishings, architectural fads and stylistic tastes. Finally, the exhibit will show how growing concerns for security, the changing neighborhood and the inability to update the mansion resulted in the mansion’s transition into a State Historic Park.

The Future

The current proposal will be examined as to the criteria listed in the legislation, SB 1091. The exhibit will focus on what the commission will be considering regarding the needs, design criteria, site selection, and funding of a suitable residence for the Governor.