OLYMPIA – The Washington State Governor’s Mansion Foundation will add to its April tours a special feature in honor of National Poetry Month – short poems by present and past Washington state poet laureates. The half-hour tours are set for Wednesdays, April 3 and 10th with tour times at 10, 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m. To make a reservation visit the Department of Enterprise Services’ website at https://apps.des.wa.gov/mansion/mansion.aspx to complete an online Mansion Tour request form.
“The poetry will fit beautifully with the elegant mansion décor and the peaceful feel of this beautiful residence and public space in our state,” said Elisabeth Schafer, Ph.D., GMF Trustee, Docent, and Librarian. “Visitors will learn history and fun facts about the mansion as they are guided through the nine public rooms, plus they will hear a short poem in each room by a Washington state poet.”
Each tour time is open to 30 guests and is hosted by the Governor’s Mansion Foundation docents. Visitors to the Georgian-style mansion, situated on a bluff overlooking Capitol Lake, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains will visit nine public rooms.
Reservations MUST be made at least 24 hours in advance. However, tours fill up fast so the earlier you make your reservation, the better. For questions or additional information, please email the State Capitol Tour Office at tours@des.wa.gov (please put in subject line Gov. Mansion Tours). Adult tour guests must present photo identification and all visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Masks are not required. No umbrellas, strollers or food/drink will be allowed on the tour. The Mansion is accessible to wheelchairs and walkers.
Visitors must walk a 200-yard incline up the Mansion. Campus parking is limited so see the Capitol Campus Interactive Map https://des.wa.gov/about/contact-us/capitol-campus-interactive-map .
Cancellation Policy – If you need to cancel your reservation, please do so with at least 72 hours’ notice (3 days) prior to your tour date. Call the Tour Office at 360.902.8880 to cancel your tour. Leave a message if no one answers. A waiting list is maintained for these tours and those not showing for their scheduled times do limit others wanting to attend. While last-minute issues are sometimes unavoidable, please make every effort to give adequate notice of cancellation.
The Governor’s Mansion Foundation, an all-volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan organization, honors the historical and cultural significance of the Washington State Governor’s Mansion by maintaining and enhancing the furnishings, art and library collection in the public rooms of the mansion, educating the public about the mansion and its history, and advocating on its behalf. The Governor’s Mansion Foundation is independent of the Governor’s office and the Governor. To learn more on becoming a “Friend of the Mansion”, or for more information on GMF, visit www.wagovmansion.org.
