Government House
Richardson, George
Download1A2-C-H-GH-A7_cp.jpg (553.5Kb)
Alternative Title
Government House, Halifax
Date
1799-1805Description
Front elevation, view of windows; Government House in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. It is the oldest building used as an official residence in Canada today with construction beginning in 1800. Governor Sir John Wentworth ordered the construction of this Georgian mansion in 1800. The house was built out of Nova Scotian stone and timber with imported marble and mahogany. In its heyday, Government House was at the centre of Nova Scotia's political and social establishment. It served both as the administrative centre for the colony, and the main venue for high society functions. As power was gradually siphoned off from the office of Governor and placed in the House of Assembly, Government House's prominence decreased. It has continuously served as the official residence of the Governors and, later, Lieutenants Governor of Nova Scotia. Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (accessed 2/8/2008)
Type of Work
official residenceSubject
architectural exteriors, rulers and leaders, Georgian, Palladian
Rights
Rights Statement
Licensed for educational and research use by the MIT community only