Terrace Hill
About this property
Terrace Hill, also known as Hubbell Mansion, Benjamin F. Allen House or the Iowa Governor's Mansion, is the official residence of the Governor of Iowa in the capital city of Des Moines. An example of Second Empire architecture, the Terrace Hill gubernatorial residence sits on a hill overlooking downtown Des Moines and features a prominent 90-foot (27 m) tower. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003. Terrace Hill was built by Benjamin Franklin Allen, the first millionaire in Iowa, as a home for his family. The architect for this project was William Boyington, a popular Chicago architect. Construction began in 1866, and was finished in 1869. The total cost of the project was $250,000 for the Mansion, the Carriage House, the original furnishings, and about 30 acres (120,000 m2) of land. The house had very modern features for its time, which included hot and cold running water, indoor restrooms, an elevator, and gas lights. When the house was first built, it was on the western edge of Des Moines. However, the city expanded westward. As a result, Terrace Hill is now nearly in the center of the city. In 1884, the mansion was bought by local Des Moines businessman F.M. Hubbell. The mansion was purchased for $60,000 from Benjamin Franklin Allen. From the time Iowa became a state in 1846 until 1947, no official residence was provided for the governor aside from Governor William L. Harding (1917–1921). In 1947, Iowa purchased an old colonial style home to serve as the residence for the governor, but by 1970, a new home was needed to serve the needs of the governor and the state to host visiting dignitaries. At first, the Iowa government considered building a new home to serve as the governor's residence. The Hubbell family—the owners of Terrace Hill—then offered the home to the state for use as a residence for the governor and his family. In the fall of 1976, Robert D. Ray became the first governor to use Terrace Hill as his residence when he moved there with his wife Billie Ray and their three daughters. Governors Terry Branstad (1983–1999, 2011–2017), Tom Vilsack (1999–2007), Chet Culver (2007–2011), and Kim Reynolds (2017–present) have occupied Terrace Hill since then. An example of Second Empire architecture, the 18,000 square feet (1,600 m2) Iowa gubernatorial residence sits on a hill overlooking downtown Des Moines. Terrace Hill 90-foot (27 m) tower that offers a commanding view of the surrounding city of Des Moines. The building's steeply pitched mansard roof, open verandas, long and narrow and frequently paired windows, and bracketed eaves give this house an irreplaceable design. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003.
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was Terrace Hill listed on the National Register?
Terrace Hill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1972.
What type of historic resource is Terrace Hill?
Terrace Hill is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Terrace Hill?
The period of significance for Terrace Hill is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Terrace Hill?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Terrace Hill will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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