Dae5ddcac898bef23d9aa4d4272cc2ef

Austin Travel Guide powered by advice from Real Travelers

 Get Real Deal alerts »

Governor's Mansion of Texas

See more attractions in Austin »
Governor's Mansion of Texas
1010 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701
+1 512 463 5518
site: Governor's Mansion of Texas
#51 of 151 things to do rated by Real Travelers

More information on Governor's Mansion of Texas

Although this is one of the oldest buildings in the city (1856), this opulent house is far from a mere symbol or museum piece. State law requires that the governor live here whenever he or she is in Austin. If the governor happens to be hosting a luncheon, you might notice warm smells wafting from the kitchen if you're on the last mansion tour of the day.Living in the mansion isn't exactly a hardship, although it was originally built by Abner Cook without any indoor toilets (there are now seven). The house was beautifully restored in 1979, but you can still see the scars of nails that were hammered into the banister of the spiral staircase to break Governor Hogg's young son Tom of the habit of sliding down it. The nation's first female governor, Miriam "Ma" Ferguson, entertained her friend Will Rogers in the mansion, and Gov. John Connally recuperated here from gunshot wounds received when he accompanied John F. Kennedy on his fatal motorcade through Dallas. Among the many historical artifacts on display are a desk belonging to Stephen F. Austin and portraits of Davy Crockett and Sam Houston. Tip: Only a limited number of visitors are allowed to tour the mansion, so make your required advance reservations as soon as you know when you're planning to visit -- and at least 1 business day ahead of time. Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Price

Free admission

Credit Cards Accepted

visa,mastercard,amex

Directions

Bus: Red, Blue, Gold, or Orange 'Dillo

Hours

Tours generally offered every 20 min. Mon-Thurs 10-noon (last tour starts 11:40am)

Information by Frommers

Things to do near Governor's Mansion of Texas

 more Austin hotels »
  • Governor's Mansion of Texas
    Attractions

    Governor's Mansion of Texas

    Although this is one of the oldest buildings in the city (1856), this opulent house is far from a mere symbol or museum piece...

    Popularity #51 of 151
  • Texas State Capitol
    Attractions

    Texas State Capitol

    The slogan states that "everything is bigger in Texas," and if you look at our Capitol, the phrase rings true. Standing a stately 309 fee...

    Distance 0.1 miles away
    Popularity #3 of 151

     Real Travelers who've been here

    loraloralora loraloralora said

    … state capitol building all lit up in front of us. It is even taller than the US Capitol. Texas! We had… continue reading »

  • Little City
    Attractions

    Little City

    Located right in the center of everything, this coffeehouse is a popular place to hang out inside or at an outdoor table, enjoy a cup of...

    Distance 0.1 miles away
    Popularity #233 of 151

     Real Travelers who've been here

    loraloralora loraloralora said

    … read about a coffee shop called Little City in one of our guidebooks, but when we got there, we… continue reading »

  • Old State Capitol Building Ruins
    Attractions

    Old State Capitol Building Ruins

    Originally housing the first classes ever held by the University of Texas at Austin in 1894, the remains of Austin's f...

    Distance 0.1 miles away
    Popularity #59 of 151
  • Old Bakery and Emporium
    Attractions

    Old Bakery and Emporium

    On the National Register of Historic Landmarks, the Old Bakery was built in 1876 by Charles Lundberg, a Swedish master baker,...

    Distance 0.1 miles away
    Popularity #257 of 151
  • 1920s Club
    Attractions

    1920s Club

    Distance 0.1 miles away
    Popularity #244 of 151
  • Brown Bar
    Attractions

    Brown Bar

    Located on the bottom floor of the famous Brown Building Lofts, the Brown Bar is a classy place that serves up the town's best mojito's....

    Distance 0.2 miles away
    Popularity #189 of 151
  • St. Mary's Cathedral
    Attractions

    St. Mary's Cathedral

    Established in 1926, St. Mary's Cathedral has beautiful stained glass windows and murals dating back to the 1930s, giving it a grand deco...

    Distance 0.2 miles away
    Popularity #47 of 151
  • Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives & Library
    Attractions

    Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives & Library

    Located east of the State Capitol, this archival library is a great place to begin researching the history of your fam...

    Distance 0.2 miles away
    Popularity #168 of 151
  • Paramount Theatre
    Attractions

    Paramount Theatre

    A little bit of the Great White Way can be found deep in the heart of Texas. Like the movie studio which shares its name, this theater is...

    Distance 0.2 miles away
    Popularity #49 of 151
 more Austin things to do »
  • Gumbo's
    Restaurants

    Gumbo's

    This cozy eatery is a little taste of New Orleans in downtown Austin. The proprietors pride themselves on running the restaurant like a "...

    Distance 0.2 miles away
    Popularity #42 of 113
  • Roaring Fork
    Restaurants

    Roaring Fork

    The original Roaring Fork is in Scottsdale, Arizona, but chef/owner Robert McGrath, a native Texan, said "yes" when he was in...

    Distance 0.3 miles away
    Popularity #121 of 113
  • Ancho's
    Restaurants

    Ancho's

    Part of the expansive lobby of the Omni Hotel Downtown, Ancho's serves delicious southwestern cuisine with a Texas attitude. The atrium a...

    Distance 0.3 miles away
    Popularity #168 of 113
  • Texas Chili Parlor
    Restaurants

    Texas Chili Parlor

    The Texas Chili Parlor serves up X (mild) chili, XX (spicy) chili, XXX (hot) chili, black bean and sausage chili, and vegetarian chili. O...

    Distance 0.3 miles away
    Popularity #173 of 113
  • Thai Passion
    Restaurants

    Thai Passion

    You will find outstanding Thai cuisine in this elegant downtown setting. Enjoy its spacious patio area with outdoor lighting. Lunch price...

    Distance 0.3 miles away
    Popularity #60 of 113
  • Mars
    Restaurants

    Mars

    Spicy food from a variety of origins makes dining in this place a taste-tempting treat. Try the Tea-Smoked Duck, which is finished in a c...

    Distance 0.3 miles away
    Popularity #77 of 113
  • Apple Annie's
    Restaurants

    Apple Annie's

    Known for their use of wheat-free spelt products, Apple Annie's has been offering creative dishes since 1982. Its catering business serve...

    Distance 0.3 miles away
    Popularity #86 of 113
  • Ranch 616
    Restaurants

    Ranch 616

    The huge snake logo on the outside of an otherwise nondescript building -- created by Bob "Daddy-O" Wade, best known for the...

    Distance 0.4 miles away
    Popularity #79 of 113
  • Clay Pit
    Restaurants

    Clay Pit

    An elegant setting -- a historic building with wood floors and exposed limestone walls, lit with soft lamps and votive candle...

    Distance 0.4 miles away
    Popularity #37 of 113
  • Katz's Deli & Bar
    Restaurants

    Katz's Deli & Bar

    If bagels and blintzes are your pleasure, there's no better spot than Katz's, the downtown deli that is open 24 hours. Start the day with...

    Distance 0.4 miles away
    Popularity #27 of 113
 more Austin restaurants »

Hotels near this attraction

Austin Travel Experiences

Where have you been lately?

Share your travels with friends & family

Free travel blog
  •  Free Travel Blog
  •  Stunning maps
  •  Share experiences
  •  Automatic emails
  •  Unlimited photos
  •  Unlimited entries
Sign up for a free travel blog

Traveler Photos of Austin

My first Polite in Public picture. A jedi for sure. www.politeinpublic.com Children's Museum in Austin, TX Somewhere in Austin. 1295049530dd93b3b0de7d9e9aabe21d
 See all photos in Austin »

Hotels near Austin