The oldest governor’s mansion in the United States built for that purpose was completed in 1813 and is the home to the Commonwealth’s governors and their families. Designed by Boston architect Alexander Parris, the mansion, a classic example of Federal-style architecture, is first a comfortable and welcoming family home. In 2022, First Lady Suzanne Youngkin originated “The Art Experience” at the Executive Mansion, a changing exhibit of artwork from museums around Virginia highlighting the varied landscapes, themes, and people of the Commonwealth. Outside the house, the historic Gillette Garden is a spot not to be missed. In the 1050s, First Lady Anne Bassett Stanley employed Charles Gillette to design and install a formal garden suitable for entertaining on the south side of the mansion. This restoration project of the Garden Club of Virginia was funded with proceeds from Historic Garden week tours. In 2016 the Valentine-Jackson Memorial Garden was established and dedicated to several enslaved families who worked at the mansion in the 1800s. The Garden Club of Virginia also worked collaboratively on this effort. First Lady Suzanne Youngkin is currently leading a project to open the entrance to this garden so it can be shared with mansion visitors.