TALLAHASSEE HAS BEEN THE HOME OF FLORIDA’S GOVERNMENT SINCE 1824, BUT ONLY SINCE 1905 HAS THERE BEEN AN OFFICIAL GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE.

UNTIL THEN, GOVERNORS WERE GIVEN A HOUSING ALLOWANCE AND LEFT ON THEIR OWN TO FIND QUARTERS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

NAPOLEON BROWARD WAS THE FIRST GOVERNOR TO LIVE IN A STATE-BUILT EXECUTIVE MANSION WHEN, IN 1905, HE, HIS WIFE, AND THEIR EIGHT CHILDREN MOVED INTO A GREEK REVIVAL HOUSE AT THE CORNER OF BREVARD AND ADAMS STREETS.

SADLY, BY 1949, IT WAS IN SUCH DISREPAIR THAT THEN GOVERNOR FULLER WARREN REFERRED TO IT AS THE “STATE SHACK.” IT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1955.

UNDER GOVERNOR LEROY COLLINS, THE PRESENT GOVERNOR’S MANSION WAS BUILT IN 1956, AT THE SAME SITE. ITS DESIGN WAS INSPIRED BY THE HERMITAGE, THE TENNESSEE HOME OF ANDREW JACKSON, FLORIDA’S FIRST GOVERNOR.

BESIDES PRIVATE QUARTERS, THE NEW MANSION INCLUDED SPACES FOR PUBLIC FUNCTIONS, REFLECTING FLORIDA’S GROWING PROMINENCE AND THE EVER EXPANDING ROLE OF THE

GOVERNOR.

IT WAS LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 2006.

Courtesy of the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources