1864 Governor's Mansion

In the summer of 1864, workers under Samuel Blair built this log house for the governor's home and office. It is the oldest building associated with Arizona Territory still standing on its original location. Undoubtedly the Mansion escaped demolition because of Sharlot Hall, who founded this Museum in the Governor's Mansion in 1927.

This floor plan was taken from the back page of Margaret McCormick's diary and represents the Mansion as she found it on her arrival in late November or early December 1865. This matches a description written in a letter by Richard McCormick to his friend Cephas Brainard in Albany, New York August 17, 1864. He stated that he lived in the north half and Governor Goodwin lived in the south half. Meals were taken in a communal dining room.

The current room use pattern is taken from a letter written by Margaret McCormick to her friend Emma Denike in Rahway, New Jersey April 1, 1866. She reflects the changes she had made since her arrival. The McCormicks had met Governor Goodwin and his party going east at the beginning of crossing of the Mohave Desert November 8, 1865. Goodwin was going east to take his seat as the elected representative of Arizona Territory to Congress. From this meeting Margaret knew that she could do whatever she wished with the Mansion as Goodwin would not be back. She had the wall that made Goodwin's side into two rooms removed. This became the office for Richard McCormick and presumably Henry Fleury who was living upstairs. It also doubled as a place to dance when the McCormicks entertained. The north side was then rearranged to put the parlor in Richard's old office space, the bedroom in the old parlor area, and turning the old bedroom into a storage room. We have replaced the wall in its original place on the north side. This wall was removed by Sharlot Hall to make room for her artifacts.

Floor plan from Margaret’s diary, about 1865-1867. Letters indicate room use. Notice the planned outside room on the northwest corner; there is no evidence that it was ever built.

TIMELINE |  PEOPLE OF THE MANSION | FIRST LADY |

GOVERNOR'S LETTERS | BOOKS | CLOCK | GUNS |

LETTER PRESS |  OFFICE   |  PARLOR  |  BEDROOM  | 

BUILDING  |  RESTORATION