Preservation Work Begins at the Territorial Governor’s Mansion

Photo: Sharlot M. Hall, stands outside the Governor’s Mansion (circa 1930). Photo courtesy of the Sharlot Hall Museum Archive

Sharlot Hall Museum is pleased to announce that preservation work on Arizona’s historic Territorial Governor’s Mansion will begin this fall. The project represents an important step in protecting one of the state’s most significant historic landmarks while ensuring it can be enjoyed by future generations.

Built in 1864, the Territorial Governor’s Mansion is the oldest surviving government structure in Arizona that remains on its original site. Originally serving as the home and office of Arizona’s first Territorial Governor, the Mansion is the centerpiece of the Sharlot Hall Museum campus and an enduring symbol of the state’s early history.

The rehabilitation project will focus on essential structural preservation, including repairs to chinking and daubing, structural beams, dormer stabilization, and strengthening the attic floors and joists. All work will follow state and federal historic preservation standards to maintain the building’s historical integrity.

The project builds on years of preservation planning made possible through support from the Margaret T. Morris Center and a generous private donor, whose contributions funded a comprehensive conservation survey that identified the Mansion’s preservation needs.

While the Territorial Governor’s Mansion will be temporarily closed during construction, the rest of the Sharlot Hall Museum campus will remain open. Visitors can continue to enjoy regular programs, exhibitions, and annual events throughout the rehabilitation, with the Mansion expected to reopen in early 2027.

Follow Sharlot Hall Museum online and on social media for project updates and information about upcoming exhibitions, programs, and America 250 commemorative events.