Common name: Governor's Mansion
Historic name: Governor's Mansion
General Location: Northwest Corner of Mountain and Robinson Streets, Carson City, Nevada
Address: 606 Mountain Street
Other addresses: 600 North Mountain Street
Assessor's PN: 003-271-01
Current use: Governor's Mansion & Annex
Original use: Governor's Mansion
Year of construction: 1908-1909
Architect: Unknown
The two-story structure is an impressively scaled residential representative of Classical Revival styles. The exterior surface material is clapboard and the foundation is rusticated masonry. A second story balcony extends along the east and south sides of the building, supported by columns with Ionic capitals. A large scaled pedimented porch, supported by two-story tall fluted columns with Ionic capitals, projects from the east facade. This gabled form intersects the hip roof of the main structure. Flat brackets resembling large scaled dentils surround the building and the pediment at the eaves. Pilasters with Ionic capitals decorate the building corners of the second story. Window moldings employ a Greek Revival motif, and windows are somewhat varied from double-hung with one-pane-over-one to large fixed windows and multi-paned French doors. A second-story balcony projects from the south elevation. Other than this, the structure is essentially symmetrical.
The structure was remodeled in 1967. Heating and air conditioning equipment has been added to the roof. The driveway paving and rock chimney may be later. The circular pergola supported by columns with Ionic capitals in the rear garden is more recent as are the curved stairs with metal balustrades and stone piers at the front of the structure. The garage building appears to be newer than the house. A one-story wing extends to the north, connected to the house by a breezeway.
The structure is larger in scale, height, and massing than any nearby buildings. It is also different but reasonably related in style to other structures in the area.
The impressive residence is an outstanding example of its style. The composition of the structure employs an interesting use of scale, and the interpenetration of balcony and porch elements add a dynamic design quality to the formal image of the structure. The symmetry of the structure and its use of Classically derived ornamentation on a grand scale contributes to its formality. The building is, appropriately, the most impressive residence in the city.
T.B. Rickey, a local banker and nearby resident at 512 Mountain Street, donated the land for the construction of the Governor's Mansion. The structure was built in 1909 and has served as the Governor's Mansion since then.
Source: Carson City Historic Cook Book.
Listed in the National Historic Register: 1976 October 22.
City Landmark: Kit Carson Trail, Plaque No. 8.
Year of construction: 1908-1909 (factual), on the original site.
Subdivision: Phillips Addition.
Architect: Unknown.
Text: Carson City Historic Resources Inventory, 1980.