Synopsis
In fascinating facts and 300 compelling color photographs, the governors' mansions from every state are presented in this lavish volume, including a personal recollection by Charles Kuralt of a boyhood visit to one of them.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1997-09-01 |
| Size | | Length: | 376 pages | | Height: | 11.5 in | | Width: | 9.0 in | | Thickness: | 1.2 in | | Weight: | 62.4 oz |
Publisher's Note
In this book, for the first time, all of the official governors' mansions currently in use in the United States are given a lavish pictorial presentation. Each of these important state buildings has a separate full-color section devoted to it, picturing the house's public and private rooms, its exterior and grounds, and the artworks and furnishings within it. The mansions' stories are told in a lively and engaging text that mixes fascinating historical anecdotes with detailed architectural description and gives close attention to the houses' interior decoration, furniture, and memorabilia. This book will be of interest not only to history buffs but also to designers and home decorators.
The governor's mansion of New York State has been home to more presidents than any residence other than the White House. The Alaska governor's mansion has a Tlingit totem pole outside the front door. Oklahoma's mansion has a swimming pool in the shape of the state. Every one of America's official governors' residences has a story to tell, and rooms full of elegant furniture, fine art, exceptional decorative objects, and fascinating historical artifacts as well.Cathy Keating, First Lady of the State of Oklahoma and an active preservationist, leads this lavishly illustrated guided tour of every governor's mansion currently in use. Specially commissioned photographs show off the buildings themselves, their public and private rooms, gardens and grounds. All of these residences are showcases for art and objects related to each state's special heritage.Renowned television commentator Charles Kuralt sets the scene for this unprecedented view with a personal recollection of his schoolboy trip to his home state's governor's mansion.Prepared with the assistance of Mike Brake, chief writer for Oklahoma governor Frank Keating, and fine arts aficionado Patti Rosenfeld, Our Governors' Mansions offers a unique look into some of America's most intriguing houses.
Industry Reviews
This lusciously illustrated large-size book is inviting to learn from and to browse. . . . The authors travel to every state capital to give a tour of governors' mansions. From classic Greek Revival motif to soaring Second Empire design to long-and-low ranch style, each executive residence is distinctive in its own way, and each has a story behind it--of its design, construction, and usage over the years. And the authors tell each individual house's story with verve. Once readers open this book's covers to zero in on their home state, they will find it difficult not to keep reading about every one of these fascinating dwellings. For travelers as well as history and architecture buffs.
Annotation copyright H.W. Wilson Company.
Hooper
Cathy Keating, the first lady of Oklahoma, . . . sticks to the official histories, art work, furnishings, and renovations. Most of the information was supplied by the other spouses (including New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman's husband). . . . There aren't many signs of interviews with historians, preservationists, or former residents. When there are anecdotes, however, they are often amusing.
Annotation copyright H.W. Wilson Company.
Scherer
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