Virtual Tour

Welcome to our virtual tour of 1006 Summit Avenue, the Minnesota Governor's Residence. Get started by reading the introduction below, and use the links at the bottom of the page or in the left navigation to continue your tour room by room.

The Estate

In memory of their parents, the two youngest daughters of Horace Hills Irvine, Clotilde Irvine Moles and Olivia Irvine Dodge donated the family house to the State of Minnesota on August 31, 1965. As the State had never had an official Governors Residence, the house was given specifically for that purpose, and was formally called the State Ceremonial Building. As Senator Gordon Rosenmeier described, the house was intended as a place where the governor could have a little dignity, pomp if you will, which are important to the proper function of government. Previously, formal hosting by Governors had occurred at the Governors Reception Room in the State Capitol, in hotels, and in the private homes of governors.

The Residence is the official home for the First Family and a state ceremonial building. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in December of 1974 and on St. Pauls Historic Sites Register in July of 1978. In 1980, the State Legislature established the Governors Residence Council (GRC) which is responsible for the renovation and maintenance of the Governors Residence.

The Governors Residence serves two important functions for the State: it houses the governor and first family, and it hosts ceremonial functions for the state. The Governors Residence hosted its first public open house on July 4, 1973, and approximately 11,000 people walked through the doors.