Texas Governor's Mansion
Texas Governor's Mansion
3.5
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
About
The Governor's Mansion, the most historic house in Texas, sits on a beautifully landscaped city block in Austin near the Capitol building. Built in 1856, it is the oldest continuously occupied executive residence west of the Mississippi. The building has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Free guided tours of the Texas Governor's Mansion are available Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and select Saturdays, from 2:00 p.M. To 4:00 p.M. Tours last 30 minutes and are subject to availability. Reservations are required for tours and must be made at least one week in advance. There are no walk-up tours.
Duration: < 1 hour
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3.5
27 reviews
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Rob S
Boise, ID745 contributions
Feb 2020
We made a reservation to tour the governor's mansion on the same day we were visiting the capitol and the Bullock Texas History Museum. This turned out to pretty underwhelming. You have to make a reservation at least a week in advance and give them you're driver's license so they can run a background check. The part you get to see is just the formal rooms with lots of antique furniture. Tour is only 30 minutes long, and our guide was struggling to remember the facts and names that were part of her tour "script". If you have time, go ahead and do it, but if you're time limited this is one thing in Austin you could skip.
Written 7 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
60+ Traveler
Princeton, MN185 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
Touring the Mansion requires at least two weeks notice as background checks are run. Our guide was knowledgeable and had a couple of amusing anecdotes. This was not the most exciting or interesting tour so not sure it was worth it?
Written 19 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SUNNYBLUE1234
Tampa, FL154 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
If you email them and ask to take a tour at least 2 weeks before your trip you can go inside. They will ask for your DL info and do security check on you. If approved they will email details about a week before you visit. The tour is free but that said I still didn't think it was worth it. You only stand in the front hall entrance and can look into 4 roped off formal (unused) rooms. The tour is about 20 mins long and fairly dull. They do give you a couple of tidbits - like the front left room was where George W Bush watched the election results during one of his presidential bids.
Written 12 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,478 contributions
Mar 2023
It's harder to gain access to the Texas Governor's Mansion than the White House in Washington DC. But it's worth it. Located at 1010 Colorado Street in Austin, the historic house was built in 1854, has been the home of every governor since 1856, is the oldest continuously inhabited house in Texas, the fourth oldest governor's mansion in the United States and was the first designated Texas historic landmark in 1962. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974. But it is only open to the public from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. To visit, you must make a reservation a week in advance and provide a driver's license to officials can make a background check. Remodeling in 1914 increased the mansion's size to 8,920 square feet with 25 rooms and seven bathrooms. But there are only two bedrooms, including the Sam Houston Bedroom which contains the original Sam Houston bed as well as several relics and antiques and memorabilia relating to Houston, who was governor from 1859 to 1861. The tour of the Greek Revival building includes 10 rooms that contain the Mansion Collection of fine and decorative arts, including objects representing every governor to live in the mansion. The collection includes a painting of Fall of the Alamo, a state-owned portrait of Sam Houston by Martin Johnson Heade, ceramics, glass, silver objects, porcelain vases, wine coolers, a 19th century French clock and American-made furniture from the first half of the 19th century.
Written 18 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Savannah
34 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
Absolutely Gorgeous Texas Mansion. Across from Texas Capitol,Austin Texas on Colorado Street. If you go on a Sunday it's easier bc parking is metered and easier to get a space.
Worth seeing in person.
Worth seeing in person.
Written 4 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bauercat
Milwaukee, WI210 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
If you're visiting Austin, and especially if you're touring the capitol, walk on by the Governor's Mansion, which is located across the street. It is a beautiful building and you can get right up to the fence to really have a good look. The road in front of the mansion is closed, so it's relatively quiet. I'm glad we stopped.
Written 8 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ItchyFeet
Camarillo, CA11,639 contributions
Aug 2022 • Business
I went and walked around the block that the mansion in on but 3 of 4 sides have walls so you can only see the house on one side so that’s all you’ll get unless you do a background check that takes a week so plan ahead before you show up to Austin.
Written 30 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dbtravels2
Palm Desert, CA64 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
My wife and I are on an extended motorhome trip playing golf and sightseeing from California to Alabama. One of our stops was in Austin for 10 days we decided to see the Texas Governors Mansion just after visiting the State Capitol Building which is only a block away from the State Capitol. We had to submit our identification information one week in advance so they could do a background check on each of us to get authorization to enter the Mansion which they did then made an appointment time for us to tour. You are not allowed to bring ANYTHING with you on the tour except your Identification (Drivers License), Camera, Phone. No Purses, Backpacks Etc Etc Etc.
They check you in similar to the airport check in through metal detector. You get to enter the ground floor only of the Mansion staying with your guide nd under the very watchful eye of security personnel You view 4 rooms and listen to your guide pass on some of the History of the Mansion about its past and present Occupants, Fires, Weddings,Births, Battle Planning etc. Pretty interesting tour last about one hour no grounds tour. Would not go out my way to do the tour because of the preplanning required to get security clearance in advance if your not going to be visiting other items in the area
They check you in similar to the airport check in through metal detector. You get to enter the ground floor only of the Mansion staying with your guide nd under the very watchful eye of security personnel You view 4 rooms and listen to your guide pass on some of the History of the Mansion about its past and present Occupants, Fires, Weddings,Births, Battle Planning etc. Pretty interesting tour last about one hour no grounds tour. Would not go out my way to do the tour because of the preplanning required to get security clearance in advance if your not going to be visiting other items in the area
Written 30 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
keithnbrandykay
Austin, TX17 contributions
Sept 2018 • Solo
I did not get to go in BUT I attacked the rules for future visitors. Make sure you give a weeks notice of your visit. They will have to do a security check.
Written 13 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gatorartlady
Jacksonville, Florida234 contributions
Feb 2018
Book free tour online. Arrive early for security check. No purses or flash photography on the tour. Mansion fire damages were repaired and it recently reopened. Tour guide knew Texas history and gave ideas of other places to visit.
Written 2 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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