FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Johnathan Campbell
December 7, 2007
(701) 328-9528                                                                                                                                         

FORMER GOVERNORS’ MANSION IN BISMARCK OPEN
FOR SPECIAL HOLIDAY EVENING DECEMBER 21

BISMARCK – The Former Governors’ Mansion State Historic Site in Bismarck will be open to the public for a special holiday evening celebrating Christmas on Friday, December 21, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The mansion and carriage house will be open for self-guided tours, with volunteers on hand to answer questions.  Cookies, coffee and hot cider will also be served.  There is no admission fee, but visitors to the open house are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food items and or toys.  All items donated will be distributed to low-income families and individuals in the area by Community Action.

The open house is sponsored by the State Historical Society of North Dakota (SHSND).  Located at the corner of Fourth Street and Avenue B, the site is one of 55 state historic sites managed by the state’s history agency.

The mansion is decorated in the Victorian theme for the holidays in honor of the early history of the house.  The state purchased the residence in 1893.  Some of the decorations are hand-made by the Heritage Volunteers of the SHSND.  Others have been donated by the North Dakota Heritage Center Museum Store in Bismarck.

Also open for the evening will be the mansion’s restored carriage house.  Restoration of the exterior of the carriage house building recreates its appearance in 1903, when it was built.   The interior of the building was rehabilitated to create an exhibit area and an ADA-accessible restroom.  The featured exhibit, “From Buckets of Oats to Quarts of Oil,” represents a time of transition from the age of the horse and buggy to the era of the automobile.

Victorian-style homes were decorated for the holiday season as simply or as elaborately as the owner wished.  Evergreens, holly, pressed ferns, dried leaves, straw flowers, grains and grasses were among the items used for decorating.  Berries added color and interest.  A wide variety of designs were created from these materials, such as mottoes, letters, greetings, wreaths and garlands.  Along with candles, the holiday tree was decorated in homemade ornaments, including cornucopias, paper flowers, popcorn and cranberry garlands, paper chains, paper links and pine cones.

The Former Governors’ Mansion State Historic Site is open year-round.  Its winter hours, now in place through May 15, are the second Friday and Saturday of each month, from 1 to 5 p.m.  Admission is free.  Here are the Fridays and Saturdays for each month the site will be open to visitors through the winter hours’ schedule:  January 12-13, February 9-10, March 9-10, April 13-14, and May 11-12.

Groups are welcome to schedule a visit to the Former Governors’ Mansion at times other than its regular open hours by calling (701) 328-9528 or email at jcampbell@nd.gov.

 The site consists of a large two and one-half story, restored Victorian house, and the restored 1903 carriage house.  Built in 1884, it housed 20 chief executives of North Dakota between 1893 and 1960.  Unique exhibits feature the restoration process, architectural style changes and furniture used by several governors.  The beautiful grounds feature many examples of the types of flowers typical of the Victorian era.

For schedule information, contact the State Historical Society at (701) 328-2666 or visit the agency’s web site at www.nd.gov/hist.

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