Since 1928, the Governor's Mansion has served as the official residence of the Governor of Oklahoma.

Brad Henry, the current resident and Governor of Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Governor's Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of Oklahoma. The current resident, Governor Brad Henry, has lived in the Mansion since taking office in 2003. Download high resolution version (619x800, 44 KB)Brad Henry taken from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (619x800, 44 KB)Brad Henry taken from http://www. ... // An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside. ... This is a list of Governors of Oklahoma: Charles N. Haskell Democratic 1907-1911 Lee Cruce Democratic 1911-1915 R. L. Williams Democratic 1915-1919 James B. A. Robertson Democratic 1919-1923 John C. Walton Democratic 1923-1923 Martin E. Trapp Democratic 1923-1927 Henry S. Johnston Democratic 1927-1929... Charles Bradford Brad Henry (born June 10, 1963) is the Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Construction

Following Oklahoma's admission to the Union on November 16, 1907, the Oklahoma Legislature focused on establishing the Oklahoma State Capitol and no the Governor's residence. After the completion of the Capitol in 1919, the Legislature began to focus on the Governor's residence. The site for the Mansion had been picked out in 1914; a plot of land just east of the Capitol. November 16 is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 45 days remaining. ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The State Capitol of Oklahoma From The South The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the biennial meeting of the legislative branch of the Government of Oklahoma. ... Oklahoma State Capitol The Oklahoma State Capitol, located in Oklahoma City, is the seat of government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma and the location of the chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

The site would remain a grassy lot for over a decade while the Legislature debate on funds for the Mansion. It was not until 1927 did debate finally end. That year, Oklahoma prospered due to an oil boom, which increased funds that State collected in taxes. The Legislature allocated $100,000 to the Mansion project. Of that $100,000, $75,000 was spent on the actual construction of the Mansion and the other $25,000 was used to provide the Governor with furniture. Two year later in 1929, the Legislature would spend another $39,000 on landscaping and other outdoor buildings on the Mansion's property. 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The Mansion was completed in 1928, one year after construction began. Built by the Oklahoma City architectural firm Layton, Hicks and Forsyth,the Mansion is of Dutch-Colonial style. Carthage limestone was used so the exterior of the Mansion would complement the Oklahoma State Capitol. Having 19 rooms, today the 14,000 square-foot Mansion has 12, including a library, parlor, dining room, grand ballroom, kitchen, sunroom and five bedrooms. 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Downtown Oklahoma City The State Capitol of Oklahoma From The South Motto: Nickname: Capital of the New Century Founded 1889 Incorporated County Oklahoma County Cleveland County Canadian County Borough {{{borough}}} Parrish {{{parrish}}} Mayor Mick Cornett Area  - Total  - Water 1,608. ...

History

Governor Henry S. Johnston was the first governor to live in the Mansion. However, due to his impeachment, he only spend a few months living there. Governor William H. Murray was the first governor to spend his entire tenure in office in the Mansion. Murray was Governor of Oklahoma when the Great Depression set in. Hoping to help Oklahoma's hungry, Murray brought a team of mules to the Mansion and personally plowed much of the lawn, converting the grounds into a vegetable garden where the poor were invited to plant potatoes to help feed their families. Due to Murray's colorful personality, the urban legend around Oklahoma City is that the ghost of Murray still resides in the Mansion, watching over all future Governors. When Governor E. W. Marland took office in 1935, oil was discovered on the Mansion's property. In response, the Legislature placed an oil well on the grounds. It would remain there throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Henry Simpson Johnston (1867–1965) was the governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma from 1927 until 1929. ... William Henry David Alfalfa Bill Murray (1869–1956) was a United States Democratic Party politician representing Oklahoma. ... The Great Depression redirects here. ... Urban legends are a kind of folklore consisting of stories often thought to be factual by those circulating them (see rumor). ... Ernest Whitworth Marland (May 8, 1874 – October 3, 1941) was an American layer, oil businessman, and politician who served as the tenth Governor of Oklahoma. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In the 1960s, a temporary helipad was added the Mansion. When President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson traveled to Oklahoma, the Mansion lacked a proper place to land the President's helicopter. A concert slab was quickly constructed for the President's visit. Once President Johnson left, the slab was converted into the Governor's private tennis court. In the next decade, Oklahomans raised money to allow the Governor a private swimming pool in the shape of Oklahoma. The presidential seal was used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908 – January 22, 1973), often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States (1963–1969). ...

The Mansion Today

Under the Governorship of Frank Keating, in 1995 the Governor's Mansion saw a massive renovation. Governor Keating called on every-day Oklahomans to help with the remodeling and many responded. To help finance the project, the Friends of the Governors Mansion, Inc was established to raised funds. Frank Keating as Governor of Oklahoma Francis Anthony (Frank) Keating (born February 10, 1944) is an American politician who was the Republican Governor of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2003. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Extensive structural work was done to keep the kitchen capable of preparing state dinners. However, the existing red and black granite countertops (from Granite, Oklahoma) installed in the early 1990s were preserved. The library's walnut paneling and moldings have been restored to both their original luster and the room's 1928 color-scheme of rich burgundy, gold and green. A Persian rug was added to the ballroom's original maple wood floor. The ballroom's windows, chandeliers and moldings were recreated to match to originals from 1928. Also, over the years, the Mansion's 19 rooms on three floors have been reduced to 12 to increase living space. Granite is a town located in Greer County, Oklahoma. ... A traditional craftsman mending a rug in Isfahan. ...

Currently, Governor Brad Henry and his family live in the five rooms on the second floor. All key furnishings on the floor were donated to the Governor by Oklahoman. However, as property of the state, they will remain with the Mansion for future Governors.

References

• Oklahoma Governor's Mansion