For over 165 years, the Texas Governor’s Mansion has been the official residence of Texas governors, making it the oldest governor’s home west of the Mississippi and the fourth-oldest continuously occupied governor’s residence in the U.S. Designed by Austin master builder Abner Cook, this Greek Revival masterpiece was constructed in 1856 using bricks molded from clay sourced along the Colorado River.

The mansion’s deep veranda, floor-length windows, and wide hallways were designed to catch cooling breezes—essential in the Texas heat. Six towering 29-foot Ionic columns frame the entrance, leading into a home that has housed Texas legends like Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin. Houston’s mahogany four-poster bed and Austin’s writing desk are among the many priceless artifacts once displayed inside.

In 2008, an arson attack severely damaged the mansion, destroying parts of the roof and Cook’s signature “X-and-Stick” porch railings. Fortunately, its historic furnishings and art collections had been placed in storage before the fire, and after a meticulous multi-year restoration, the mansion was returned to its former grandeur.

Though public tours are limited, visitors can admire its iconic columns, manicured grounds, and storied past from the outside—a landmark of Texas politics, resilience, and history.