The North Dakota Governor’s Residence, also known as the Governor’s Mansion, is the official residence of the North Dakota Governor and first family. The current Residence was completed in 2018.
Original Mansion
The original North Dakota Governor’s Mansion was home to 21 governors from 1893-1960 and is now a historic site. Located at 320 East Avenue B, it was originally built as the private residence of Asa Fisher in 1884.
1960 Mansion
A new Governor’s Mansion was occupied in March 1960. Unlike its predecessor, the new mansion was located on the Capitol Grounds – southwest of the state house. It was a ranch “prairie” style brick home originally containing 11 rooms, a two-stall garage, and an unfinished basement for future expansion. It cost a little more than $200,000 to complete. Despite it’s unimposing ranch-style exterior, once fully finished the mansion contained roughly 10,000 square feet with 16 rooms, 7 of which isolated as private housing for the governor’s family.
The state legislature first appropriated funding for a new governor’s residence in 1951, but Governor Brunsdale vetoed the bill citing more important matters than funding a new mansion. A second attempt in 1955 overrode Brunsdale’s veto and became law. It was originally planned to be located on the northeast grounds “on a grassy knoll 300 feet south of Divide Avenue” near the intersection of State Street. Ultimately, it was erected on the opposite corner near Boulevard Avenue and 4th Street.
The state originally awarded the contract to local architect firm Leonhard, Askew and Blake, but withdrew after plans were deemed too elaborate and expensive. It called for a contemporary multi-story house spanning more than 200 feet in length with massive windows overlooking the Capitol Grounds. After failing to meet consensus on design, the state backed out of its contract and later solicited local firm Ritterbush Brothers – the successor to Arthur Van Horn’s architectural firm. It was at this time that the mansion’s location was switched to the southwest grounds. It is speculated that the location change was both to reduce costs and to create symmetry with existing structures, most notably the former Bismarck Junior College building on the southeast grounds.
Groundwork and tree removal began in May 1959 with construction on the residence itself in June. Governor Davis was its first occupant, in March of 1960. The mansion was remodeled over the years. The basement was partially finished the very next year, adding two bedrooms, then fully finished in 1972. Other improvements would follow, the most significant of which was completed in 2000. It was replaced by the current mansion built adjacent in 2018.
The site of the new mansion was once Bismarck’s first cemetery, most commonly known as Boot Hill Cemetery. By the time of its construction, most of the bodies had already been relocated to Fairview or Saint Mary’s Cemeteries – at least fifty during the original Capitol’s construction in 1883-1884 and thirteen during the streetcar line’s construction in 1904, but some graves were unmarked and not known. Five additional coffins and bodies were discovered during the mansion’s construction.
Current Residence
The current Governor’s Residence was occupied in March 2018. The 2015 State Legislature approved $4 million for its construction and to demolish the 1960-era residence. Additional private financing was secured. Governor Jack Dalrymple signed bill SB 2304 in April 2015 and groundwork began in September 2016. The Residence was erected immediately adjacent to the 1960s-era house.
