Old Governor's Mansion (Frankfort, Kentucky)
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The Old Governor's Mansion is located at 420 High Street, Frankfort, Kentucky. It is reputed to be the oldest official executive residence officially still in use in the United States, as the mansion is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky.
In 1796, the Kentucky General Assembly appropriated funds to provide houses to accommodate the governor and construction was completed in 1798.
Contact the Kentucky Capitol Tour Desk for reservations and additional information at (502) 564-3449. The Home barely survived fires and neglect, the house has undergone several style changes as evidenced by some Victorian design elements that were added.
The Mansion was often referred to as the "Palace" in its early days. Dignitaries including Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Jackson, Louis-Philippe of France, Henry Clay, William Jennings Bryan and the Marquis de Lafayette have been guests of the Mansion. The last actual occupants of the mansion was Lieutenant Governor Steve Henry and his wife Heather French Henry. Both Henry's successor, Steve Pence and current Lieutenant Governor Daniel Mongiardo have chosen not to live in the mansion but to maintain residences in their hometowns (Pence in Louisville and Mongiardo in Hazard) and travel to Frankfort as needed. Because of this, the mansion has been turned over to the Kentucky Historical Society. [1]
