Founded in 1979
Governor and Mrs. William P. Clements, Jr. realized shortly after Governor Clements’ election in November of 1978 that the Governor’s Mansion, their future home, was in desperate need of attention. The paint was peeling, the kitchen facilities were inadequate, and there were no adequate restroom facilities for the thousands of guests who visited the home each year. Every room in the Mansion needed repairs, if not major renovation. In 1979, the State of Texas appropriated $1,000,000 for structural repairs and maintenance to the Mansion.
Private funding was needed to acquire appropriate furnishings for the Mansion. In 1979, Governor and Mrs. Clements established Friends of the Governor’s Mansion, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to maintaining and preserving the historical and cultural significance of the Mansion. Friends of the Governor’s Mansion successfully raised funds to acquire museum-quality artwork and American-made antique furnishings to enhance and reflect the Mansion’s importance in Texas history.
Friends of the Governor’s Mansion has a Memoranda of Agreement with the Texas Historical Commission and the State Preservation Board.