An Austin landmark and the official home of the Lone Star State governor and family, this Greek Revival-style structure offers a look into Texas’ past and present. Visitors take a free tour of the Texas Governor’s Mansion on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with reservations made in advance. The tour showcases the first floor, and guests get an insider’s look at historical home furnishings, ornate building details, and pieces of Texas history.
To hear more history behind the building and the state’s capital, book a tour of Austin that makes the Texas Governor’s Mansion one of its highlights. Many guided walking, running, and Segway tours include a stop outside the mansion.
To take one of the free tours (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 2pm to 4pm), guests must make reservations at least one week in advance. No walk-up tours are available.
As part of making a reservation, visitors receive a background security check.
There are no restrooms available for public use, and visitors may not bring any bags inside.
The Texas Governor’s Mansion is located at 1010 Colorado Street in downtown Austin near the southwestern corner of the Texas State Capitol Building. It’s about 10 blocks west of I-35. If driving from outside of Austin, take I-35 to 11th street and head west to Colorado. Metered street parking is sometimes available around the Capitol, or you can park in the Texas Capitol Visitors Center Parking Garage (parking is free for the first two hours).
Your arrival at the Texas Governor’s Mansion is dictated by your appointed tour time, but you can view the exterior of the governor’s mansion at your leisure.
Your tour of the governor’s mansion is likely to include more than a few interesting tales. A few tidbits: Sam Houston burned a letter from Abraham Lincoln in a fireplace here after Lincoln offered Houston federal troops in an effort to keep Houston in office and Texas in the Union. More recently, the mansion was where then-governor George W. Bush watched the 2000 election that made him the 43rd president of the United States.
