Located at 2035 North Front Street in Harrisburg, the current Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence was designed by Philadelphia architect George M. Ewing and completed in 1968.
1858 - The first official Pennsylvania’s Governor’s Residence was purchased by Governor James Pollock (1855-1858) on South Second Street in downtown Harrisburg
1864 - Governor Andrew Curtain (1861-1867) found that the home on South Second Street was too small to accommodate the many wartime crisis meetings that he held during the Civil War. To meet the governor's needs, the state purchased a larger home nicknamed "Keystone Hall" at 313 North Front Street in Harrisburg.1941 - Changing needs of the chief executive and expensive restorations prompted a search for a suitable permanent home for the governors and their families during their time in office. Governor Arthur H. James (1939-1943) signed legislation authorizing the construction of a new residence. Two properties were purchased at Front and Maclay Streets in Harrisburg; however, due to the onset of World War II, construction did not begin on the new Governor’s Residence until 25 years later in 1966.
1943-1967 - A fieldstone house at Fort Indiantown Gap (the "State House"), originally built for the adjutant general of the Pennsylvania National Guard was the domicile of the first families of Pennsylvania. With the exception of Governor George Leader (1955-1959) and for a short time Governor David Lawrence (1959-1963), the State House was the unofficial "official" home until the construction of the current home.
1968 - Governor and Mrs. Raymond Shafer (1967-1971) became the first occupants of 2035 North Front Street. That same year, Governor Shafer buried a lead box containing a photograph of the Shafer family, copies of the May 12, 1968 edition of Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia newspapers, a letter from Governor Shafer to Pennsylvanians of the future, and a copy of the 1967-68 Pennsylvania Manual in the building's cornerstone.
1972 - Hurricane Agnes caused extensive damage to the young Residence. Governor Milton Shapp (1971-1979) and his family were forced to evacuate the home as it was taking on what eventually totaled five feet of water. The restoration took nearly two years.
2018 - The current home, now commonly referred to as "The Residence," celebrated its fiftieth year with public celebrations and the return of the first families to connect with each other and the staff, take in the changes, and to share fond memories.
Quick Facts
- The first official Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence was purchased in 1858 and was located on South Second Street in Harrisburg.
- Overlooking the Susquehanna River, the current Residence was completed in 1968 and is a neo -Georgian style, three-story, 29,000 square foot home.
- The three and one-half acre property includes the Jane Shafer Rose Garden, Penn’s Woods, the Susquehanna Garden, the West Lawn, and the Rain Gardens.
- Two rain gardens, one sun, and one shade were cultivated in 2017 in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, a Penn State University landscape architect student and the Residence staff
- In order to give the public a glimpse into the working apiaries located on the grounds, observation beehives were installed in 2016. Our working hives produce approximately 90 pounds of honey per year.
- The Residence proudly hosts more than 14,000 visitors annually for tours and community events including our spooky Trick or Treat night and the magical Holiday Open House.