Do you know the story? The photo depicted on the 2011 “Honoring the Past: A Holiday Celebration at The Missouri Governor’s Mansion” features the mansion when it was painted “stark white.” This beautiful historic treasure had been painted during the Stark Administration 1937-1941 and is often referred to as “stark white.”

Fortunately, during the Hearnes administration (1965-1973), former First Lady Betty Hearnes restored the beauty of the Mansion and removed over 35 coats of white paint.

On January 20, 1872, after eight months of construction, Governor B. Gratz Brown and his family moved into the new, three-story Mansion. Mrs. Brown had been awaiting completion of the project in their Iron County farm, pregnant with their sixth child.

The Mansion was like a beautiful jewel to the City of Jefferson. The local streets at that time were muddy, busy with roaming farm animals and a bustling town of five thousand people.

The first guests arrived by train on January 23, 1872. The massive Mansion front doors greeted guests with their German silver hinges, revealing a Great Hall seventeen-feet high, bordered by parlors, a library and divided dining room. Grand Duke Alexis, twenty-two-year-old son of the Russian Czar was on his way home from a buffalo hunt and scheduled a stop to the Mansion to attend the Grand Opening Reception.

From the Columbia (Missouri) Statesman, February 2, 1872:

“The grand reception and dedication of the new Executive Mansion on Wednesday night, 24th, at Jefferson City, was one of the most magnificent entertainments which ever occurred west of St. Louis. The crowd was immense and estimated from 1,500 to 2,000 persons who were received by His Excellency and Mrs. Brown, aided by Miss Eliza Brown, with a grace and elegance…”

From the Daily Tribune, Jefferson City, January 25, 1872:

“Governor Brown’s reception in the new Executive Mansion was a fashionable and popular demonstration. As nearly as we could estimate there were between one thousand and twelve hundred persons present. Probably one hundred and fifty ladies and gentlemen were from St. Louis….The presentation of Governor Brown’s portrait to Mrs. Brown was one of the interesting features of the evening.”