Grand staircases, state-shaped pools, and bowling alleys in the basement: See what the governor's mansion looks like in each state

Five states don't have a governor's mansion. Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images Forty-five of the 50 US states have official mansions, where governors can live rent-free. Some governors' mansions are open to the public for tours. Arizona, Idaho, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont don't have designated mansions. After a long day serving constituents, governors return home to sprawling, historic buildings. They're welcomed by 20-foot entranceways; their heels ring out on marble floors. If it's been a particularly grim day, they can wash it away with a swim in their state-shaped pool. These official houses, found in 45 of the 50 states, are meant to evoke pride in their areas. Arizona, Idaho, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont are the only states without a designated mansion. Life in a governor's mansion is more public than a normal home. Often, visitors can take tours, and security can be heavy. Careful household budgeting is necessary to avoid criticism from the media or constituents. Some governors have chastised reporters for calling it a mansion, telling them to call it a "residence" instead. Following the 2026 midterm results, 21 states are set to have new governors, with Alaska and Kansas still uncalled. Democrats flipped the governorships in five of those states: Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas. The elections also brought many gubernatorial firsts. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms became the US' first Black woman elected governor; Texas elected Gina Hinojosa, the state's first Latina governor; and New Mexico elected Deb Haaland, the nation's first Native American woman governor. Here's what the governors' mansions look like in every state that has one. The Alabama governor's mansion is in Montgomery. The governor's mansion in Montgomery, Alabama. Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images. Alabama's state mansion, built in 1907, with a grand staircase and four Corinthian columns, has been the residence of the governor since 1951, according to the Office of the Alabama Governor. The mansion spans two floors and 8,500 square feet. In the 1970s, a state-shaped swimming pool, a guest house, and a water feature were added. The Alaska governor's mansion is in Juneau. The governor's mansion in Juneau, Alaska. John Elk/Getty Images The mansion was built for $40,000 in 1912. To deal with the cold, the 12,900-square-foot house has eight fireplaces for its 26 rooms. Above a winding staircase hangs a large painting of Russian emperor Peter the Great, who was responsible for Russia's exploration of Alaska. The painting has BB-gun bullets near Peter's eyes, and there has been a decadeslong controversy over who pulled the trigger, local news channel KTUU reported. Since 1913, the mansion has opened to the public once a year for a tour at Christmas, according to Alaska's Office of the Governor. Arizona used to have a governor's mansion in Prescott. Arizona doesn't have a governor's mansion. Rosemarie Mosteller/Shutterstock Arizona does not currently have a governor's mansion, but it did once. The historic log cabin on the Sharlot Hall Museum campus was once the governor's mansion in Prescott. It was only used for about two years before the capital left Prescott, KJZZ Phoenix reported. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs lives in her family's private residence in Phoenix. The Arkansas governor's mansion is in Little Rock. The governor's mansion in Little Rock, Arkansas. Arkansas Governor's Mansion Handout/Reuters The three-story mansion, a Georgian Colonial-style building, has been home to the state's governors since 1950. There was no official residence before this one. When it was opened to the public in 1950, 180,000 visitors toured it, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. The property is 8.5 acres, with six different gardens. Since 1989, the house received nearly $6 million to renovate and expand, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. It has antique Persian carpets, a 62-piece sterling silver service from the USS Arkansas, and a grandfather clock from Ireland made in the 18th century. Notable visitors who have stayed the night include former President Harry Truman and actor Gregory Peck. The California governor's mansion is in Sacramento. The governor's mansion in Sacramento, California. Rich Pedroncelli, File/AP The three-story Victorian-style mansion was built in 1877. It has 30 rooms, Italian marble fireplaces, original wood floors, Persian rugs, and a kidney-shaped swimming pool, Curbed San Francisco reported. The governor's mansion took a break for almost 50 years when then-Gov. Ronald Reagan moved out, after his wife, Nancy, called it "a fire trap." From 1967 to 2015, it was a public museum, until Gov. Jerry Brown moved into the property after a $1.6 million renovation, the Los Angeles Times reported. Sacramento-born writer Joan Didion called the mansion "an enlarged version of a very common kind of California tract house." The Colorado governor's mansion is in