Michigan Governor's Residence

There are two official Governor's Residences in the U.S. state of Michigan. One is in Lansing and the other, a summer residence, is on Mackinac Island. Both residences are owned by the state of Michigan and are maintained with private donations. The Michigan Constitution calls for there to be a Governor's Residence at the Seat of Government. It also states that the seat of Government shall be at Lansing.

Lansing residence

The Governor’s Lansing residence was built in 1957 for Howard and Letha Sober, who donated it to the state in 1969. American architect Wallace Frost, who was known for traditional architecture, designed the residence. The contemporary residence was a departure from his usual style. A garden room was added in the mid 1970s. The residence sits on approximately four acres in the Moores River Drive neighborhood of Lansing. Governors who have lived in the residence during their office tenure include: William Milliken, James Blanchard, John Engler, and Jennifer Granholm.

Summer residence

Built in 1902, the Governor’s summer residence on Mackinac Island is a three-story structure located on a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac.

It was originally built as a private residence for Chicago attorney Lawrence Andrew Young and later owned by the Hugo Scherer family of Detroit. In 1944, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission purchased the home for its original cost of $15,000. Since then, the commission has provided the care and maintenance of the residence and surrounding gardens.

The residence home features eleven bedrooms, nine and one-half bathrooms and a full basement. The interior features yellow pine, while the exterior is constructed of Michigan white pine. The house retains many original fixtures and furnishings including the Young family crystal in a leaded-glass china cupboard and a tall case clock in the living room.

Since the first official function in 1945, Michigan’s governors have used this home to host important events with national and state leaders.

The house was named to the National Register of Historical Places in 1997.

References

* [http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192-29938_30239-103704--,00.html "The Governors Residence Foundation"]

External links

* [http://www.mackinacisland.org/architecture.html Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau Website]