Kentucky Governor's Mansion Celebrates 100 Years

The Kentucky Governor’s Mansion has reached a historic milestone, turning 100 years old on Jan. 20.  The anniversary will be marked with a yearlong celebration of events honoring the Mansion’s architectural, social and political history. 

“Jane and I have been fortunate to live at the Mansion and experience firsthand the stunning architecture and impeccable attention to detail that went in to constructing this historic landmark,” said Gov. Steve Beshear.  “But we are just the temporary residents. This magnificent building is truly the people’s house and belongs to every Kentuckian.  I hope that folks from across the state will come to visit the residence during this special celebration and see the Mansion as they’ve never seen it before.”  

“Governors’ mansions across the country are becoming increasingly rare, as many have gone by the wayside due to lack of interest in preservation or depleted funding,” said First Lady Jane Beshear.  “In Kentucky, we are blessed to have a fully functional and restored executive residence thanks to the support of our leaders and people who value history, art and tradition.  The Kentucky Governor’s Mansion has a story to tell, and we invite people of all ages to join us for next year’s Centennial Celebration.”

The Governor’s Mansion Centennial Celebration will feature a range of both free and ticketed public and private events, including a Centennial symposium, the Martin Luther King Jr. March and reception, a reception honoring the people of Frankfort, a Kentucky music entertainment weekend and more.  The Mansion will also feature several special art exhibits throughout the year, including an Audubon collection.  For a complete list of currently scheduled celebration events, visit http://governorsmansion.ky.gov/centennial/Pages/events.aspx

The Celebration will kick off with premieres of a new documentary about the historical landmark, called “Kentucky Governor’s Mansion:  A Century of Reflection.”   The film features interviews with former governors and their families, former and current Mansion staff, notable Kentucky political figures and more.  The film’s premieres will be held at the Grand Theatre in Frankfort on Jan. 15 and at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington on Jan. 16. 

More details about the documentary, ticketing and other Centennial events will be released soon.  For the latest Centennial Celebration news and updates, go the official Centennial website at http://governorsmansion.ky.gov/centennial/, visit the Governor’s Mansion Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KentuckyGovernorsMansion or follow the Mansion on Twitter @GovMansion1914 .

Celebration Funding
No public or taxpayer dollars will be used to fund the Centennial Celebration.  All events and exhibits are sponsored through private donations to the Kentucky Executive Mansions Foundation, Inc. (KEMFI).   KEMFI is a 501(c)(3) organization established to undertake, promote and assist financially and otherwise the modification to the restoration, maintenance and preservation of public buildings, sites, structures, places and objects of historic significance owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Centennial Planning Committee
The Mansion Centennial Celebration Committee includes a cross-section of Kentuckians who understand the importance of the Mansion, not only as a remarkable example of Beaux Arts architecture, but also as the center of Kentucky politics for the past 100 years.

Co-chairs Mike Duncan, former Republican National Committee Chairman, and Terry McBrayer, former chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party and committeeman for the Democratic National Committee, are working with the committee to ensure bipartisan support for this important occasion.

About the Governor’s Mansion and Tour Information
The Kentucky Governor’s Mansion is the official home of the state’s Governor and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It is one of only a handful of executive residences in the United States open to the public for tours.  To schedule a tour, visitors can contact the Capitol tour desk at 502-564-3449 or by email at capitol.wc@ky.gov.  For more Mansion history and visiting information, go to http://governorsmansion.ky.gov/.