The Governor's Mansion at 621 S. Marshall Ave. in Marshall, Michigan is a historic house built in 1839 with elements of

Greek Revival architecture The Greek Revival was an architectural movement which began in the middle of the 18th century but which particularly flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in northern Europe and the United States and Canada, but ...

. It is also known as Governor's Mansion Museum. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. In 2017, the house is a museum owned and operated by the Mary Marshall Chapter of

Daughters of the American Revolution The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence. A non-profit group, they promote ...

History

In 1839, Marshall citizen James Wright Gordon, recently elected to the state senate, began agitating for Marshall to be designated as the state capital. In expectation, Gordon purchased land across from where the Capitol was proposed to be built and constructed this house. It has been referred to as the "Governor's Mansion" since its construction. (excerpted from "A History of Marshall") Gordon became lieutenant governor, and then acting governor of Michigan in 1841. However, Lansing was chosen as the new state capital in 1847, dashing Marshall's hopes. Gordon was later appointed to the consular service in South America by Zachary Taylor, and died there in 1853. Gordon's widow owned of the house until 1882, when it was purchased by Mrs. Flory Palmer, a local resident. She and her daughter, Bertha Palmer Brady, lived in the house for many years. In 1967, the Brady heirs donated the property to the local Mary Marshall Chapter of the

. The chapter converted the house into their meeting hall and as a museum.

Description

The "Governor's Mansion" in Marshall is a two-story white frame Greek Revival building built in a side-hall plan. It has a single-story rear addition. The main section of the house has clapboard siding on the sides and horizontal plank siding on the front. In the front is a wide Doric portico with a Greek entablature above. Under the portico are two vertically elongated sash windows, and a front entrance framed by pilasters decorated with carved acanthus leaves. A dentiled cornice runs across the main portion of the house.

References

External links

Marshall's Governor's Mansion Museum
- Facebook site
Governor's Mansion
- visiting information
Governor's Mansion Museum
- History {{Michigan Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan Houses completed in 1839 Museums in Calhoun County, Michigan Historic house museums in Michigan Greek Revival houses in Michigan Houses in Calhoun County, Michigan National Register of Historic Places in Calhoun County, Michigan 1839 establishments in Michigan Daughters of the American Revolution museums Governor of Michigan

History

Description

See also

References

External links