Governor's Mansion
Also known as: Executive Mansion
Why it's listed
Set in the northeast corner of Capitol Square in Richmond, this two-story brick house has served as the Virginia Governor's residence since 1813. The General Assembly authorized $13,000 in 1810 to replace an earlier wooden house that had fallen into disrepair. Boston architect Alexander Parris supplied the plans, which the Commissioners altered to give the principal story a more refined finish, and Christopher Tompkins served as builder. The Federal style facade has five bays with a slightly projecting center, and a front portico added in 1830 has four columns of the Temple of the Winds order. A fire in 1926 destroyed much of the original interior, though Parris's basic plan was kept. Additions came in 1906, 1914-15, and later administrations. The house has received guests including Lafayette, King Edward VII, Marshal Foch and Winston Churchill, and Stonewall Jackson's body lay in state there during the Civil War.
Significance in brief: It has been the home of every Virginia Governor since 1813 and is described as one of the state's outstanding examples of Federal style architecture. It has hosted notable guests such as Lafayette and Winston Churchill, and Stonewall Jackson's body lay in state there. It also houses the head of an executive office tracing back to 1607.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 69000360, listed June 4, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Capitol Sq., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | June 4, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000360 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Alexander Parris (architect, plans); Christopher Tompkins (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 7, 1988 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition, and in public ownership by the Commonwealth of Virginia; used as the Governor's residence. |
| Acreage | 14.1 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.53875, -77.43220 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 69000360.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5419842
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.