Executive Mansion
Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
The first official Governor's mansion stood at this site. Purchased in 1858, it housed only two governors, Packer and Curtin. It was sold in 1864 when the second mansion, "Keystone Hall," was acquired.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Purchased by Pennsylvania in 1858, this Harrisburg site held the state's first official governor's residence during a pivotal stretch of the mid-nineteenth century. It sheltered only two chief executives—William Packer and, most notably, Andrew Curtin, the wartime governor who steered the commonwealth through the Civil War. The mansion was sold in 1864 once the state acquired a grander home known as "Keystone Hall."
Why it matters
It recalls the working seat of Pennsylvania's government in the Civil War years, when the state was a crucial source of troops, industry, and political support for the Union.
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Related people
- · William Packer
- · Andrew Curtin
Themes & tags
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