The Old Governor's Mansion is the second governor's mansion to occupy the site. Although
Louisiana became a state in 1812, the first purchase of a gubernatorial mansion was not until 1887, when the State of Louisiana purchased the house from the heirs of Nathan Knox for $10,000. The Knox mansion, located at the present site of the Old Governor's Mansion, was built in 1857. Although purchased during the term of Governor
Samuel D. McEnery, the first governor to occupy the Knox mansion was
Francis T. Nicholls. The Knox mansion served as the official residence of Louisiana governors from 1887 until 1929, when it was razed under the direction of Huey P. Long, and the present Old Governor's Mansion was built. When Huey P. Long took office in 1928, the existing governor's mansion was to him a symbol of the past and more importantly the political opposition. In February 1929, Long succeeded in tearing down the Knox mansion, enlisting the aid of local convicted criminals to disassemble it. On the very next day, the plans and specifications were approved for the new mansion. This event is one of the incidents that contributed to and figured in the (unsuccessful) impeachment proceedings against Long in 1930. Building the Old Governor's Mansion cost almost $150,000, plus an additional $22,000 for the finest damask and velvet drapes, crystal chandeliers, and other fine appointments. It was also added as a
contributing resource to the
Beauregard Town Historic District at the time of its creation on October 14, 1980. ==See also==