The
Mississippi Governor's Mansion is a historic structure and the official residence
of the governor, whose private living quarters adjoin the historic section. The
Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History has statutory
authority and responsibility to establish guidelines for public access and organizational
use of the historic section of the Governor's Mansion in order to protect and
preserve its structural and architectural integrity.
Public Access
The
Governor's Mansion is normally open to the public free of charge for guided tours
from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday through Friday. The tour schedule may vary
during the holidays. Tours for groups of ten or more should be booked with the
Mansion curator at 300 East Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39201, or at (601) 359-6421.
The
Mansion and grounds will be closed on Monday and weekends. The Mansion may be
closed at other times to accommodate functions of state and other events hosted
by the governor.
Visitors
should enter the Mansion grounds from the west gate on North West Street, where
the Capitol Police Officer will request identification.
The
Governor's Mansion is handicapped-accessible with some limitations. No animals
are allowed in the Governor's Mansion at any time, except those trained to aid
the blind or handicapped.
The
Governor's Mansion is a smoke-free facility.
Organizational Use
The
historic section of the Governor's Mansion has been designated as an area for
limited public use by educational, historical, and other non-profit organizations.
The Mansion and grounds will not be available to private individuals acting on
their own.
The
Mansion and grounds may be scheduled for no more than one tea or reception per
week, Tuesday through Friday, dependent on availability. No organization will
be allowed to use the Governor's Mansion for entertaining more than once a year.
On
occasion, it will be necessary to rearrange scheduling due to emergency use of
the Mansion by the governor for official state functions or other important uses.
The understanding and flexibility of the affected organization is requested in
those infrequent instances of cancellation or postponement of a scheduled function.
Requests
for use of the Mansion should be made in writing to the Mansion administrator,
300 East Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39201, at least six weeks prior to the scheduled
date of a function. The request should provide as much information as possible
on proposed plans and arrangements for an event, including the general purpose
of the event and the anticipated number of guests. All arrangements must be approved
in advance by the Mansion administrator.
If
the requested use is approved, the authorized representative of the organization
will be expected to sign a Facility Use Contract and to pay a Mansion Use Fee
based on the number of persons expected to attend the event (0 to 25 persons -
$100.00; 26 to 99 persons - $200.00; 100 to 200 persons - $400.00).
The
Use Fee is deposited in the Friends of the Mansion account and benefits the Governor's
Mansion by providing funding for the conservation, preservation, and repair of
furnishings in the historic section of the Mansion.
- The number of guests may
not exceed two hundred (200) persons.
- The
Mansion is not appropriate for auditorium-type events.
- The
Mansion cannot accommodate commercial filming or television equipment.
- Functions
are to begin and conclude at the scheduled time.
- Caterers
should not arrive earlier than one hour prior to the designated event.
- Food,
flowers, and beverages are the responsibility of the host organization. Caterers,
florists, and other vendors must be selected from an approved list.
- Whenever
food is served, plates furnished by the Governor's Mansion are to be used. In
order to avoid potential damage to floor coverings, dips, chips, and nuts may
not be served.
- Food
is allowed only in the State Dining Room and the adjacent Parlor.
- No
linens will be furnished by the Mansion.
- Service
will be provided by the Mansion domestic staff, for which gratuities are customary.
- The
organization may not collect dues nor charge fees at events held at the Mansion.
- Smoking
is not permitted.
- Guests
are requested to refrain from sitting on, leaning on, or placing objects on the
historic furnishings.
- The
host group is responsible for any breakage or damage to the Mansion, its furniture,
furnishings, or grounds.
- The
host organization should confer with the Mansion administrator twenty-four (24)
hours prior to the function to ensure that all of the above guidelines have been
met.
As the authorized
representative for ________________________________________ (name of organization)
I have read, understand, and agree to abide by the guidelines for
the use of the Governor's Mansion.
Signature:
Address:
City,
State, Zip:
Telephone
Number:
Date:
Originally
adopted by the Governor's Mansion Committee, Board of Trustees, Mississippi Department
of Archives and History, on May 10, 1980. Subsequently amended on March 15, 1982;
February 14, 1984; February 17, 1998; and March 24, 1998. Adopted by the Board of Trustees on May 8, 1998.
