BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Officials offered a first glimpse Tuesday of the interior of North Dakota’s new $5 million governor’s mansion, calling the new home more suitable and secure for the state’s first family.
“It’s very nice, but it’s not over the top,” Capitol Facilities Manager John Boyle told reporters.
And though he declined to give details, Boyle said “there is more security in this house than the former house.”
Finishing work was still being done to the 13,700-square-foot home on the state Capitol grounds in Bismarck. Boyle said a public open house will occur later this summer.
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Republican Gov. Doug Burgum and first lady Kathryn Helgaas Burgum, along with Mr. Gray the cat, moved into the six-bedroom, six-bathroom home in late March.
The new home is constructed of brick from Hebron, North Dakota. Its interior features marble and oak floors, oak columns, some cedar ceilings and a 22-foot-tall limestone fireplace built to mimic the Depression-era Capitol, one of the state’s tallest buildings.
The old mansion that had served North Dakota’s first families for more than 57 years and was located next door was torn down earlier this month.
A bulldozer continued to push around rubble from the demolished old home on Tuesday.
Lawmakers had been attempting to replace the old 10,000-square-foot dwelling for years, saying it is has security issues, and contained lead paint, mold and asbestos.
The Legislature in 2015 approved construction of the new mansion, stipulating that $1 million of its cost be funded by private donations.
Bismarck businessman Jim Poolman is heading a group to raise private money, and said Tuesday that about $870,000 has been raised to date.
The new home is the third official residence built for North Dakota’s governors. The original was built in 1884 and still stands a few blocks south of the Capitol.