The Ghosts of the Texas Governor’s Mansion
Many people believe this is a haunted house.
Ghosts of the Texas Governor’s Mansion
Sam Houston
It is said that Sam Houston’s ghost haunts the Governor’s Mansion, more specifically the bedroom which he occupied while in residence as governor and for which he bought the mahogany four-poster bed with which it is furnished. His portrait still hangs behind the bed.
It was not long after his death that visitors to the mansion began to report catching glimpses of the old hero whose image would vanish when spoken to. Some say that Houston has returned to the mansion because his spirit is haunted by thoughts of the tragic historical circumstances which led to his early departure from his lofty position. There are reports of heavy boot steps pacing, pacing back and forth in that bedroom throughout the night – like the night before he wrote his letter resigning from office.
The best-known ghost story of the Governor’s Mansion concerns a suicide in 1865.
The property’s second poltergeist has a much less romantic backstory. While Pendleton Murrah was Governor during The Civil War, the Governor’s nephew had come to the mansion for a visit. Coincidentally, the Governor’s Wife had her niece staying at the property, too. Legend has it that the Governor’s Nephew fell instantly for the niece. The niece enjoyed the boy’s attention but felt nothing towards the poor lad. Astoundingly, he proposed to the girl the next day. He watched in devastation while she rejected his advance. His tragedy doesn’t end there. A gunshot was heard emanating from the upstairs of the mansion later that night. A staff member who had cautiously entered the boy’s bedroom discovered his lifeless body laid out on the bed. The Governor’s Nephew had taken his life. Since his melancholic suicide, staff members have avoided the boy’s bedroom. Paranormal disturbances are regularly witnessed near the room, leading some to believe his spirit is trapped in the mansion forever. The boy’s sobbing moans are the most common activity, but muddled echoes and phantom footsteps are likewise overhead. Those sensitive to residual energies claim he’s most active on Sundays, the day he took his own life.
Learn more on the Original and Only Owned Austin Ghost Tours
Shadow people are often seen in the Governor’s Mansion
Governor Murrah’s ghost is said to stalk the mansion. Spectators claim his fully-formed apparition looks similarly to Murrah, yet this ghost is he seen within the estate, and near his grave in the Texas State Cemetery.
Also rumored is that the ghost of a woman is among the spirits of the mansion, the specter of an unmarried maid who was dismissed from employment when her pregnancy became apparent. She waits outside the house, as if in hopes of being invited back.
Building the Texas Governor’s Mansion
The first governor to live in the Texas Governor’s Mansion was Elisha M. Pease, who moved in on June 10, 1856. The mansion has been the official residence of Texas governors since then, making it a significant historical landmark in the state.
The Governor’s Mansion Fire
Free Guided Tours of the Governor’s Mansion Texas
To ensure a positive tour experience, visitors are required to adhere to specific guidelines, such as arriving on time and passing through security screening. The mansion is open for public tours and hosts various events throughout the year, providing an opportunity to learn more about the state’s history and culture.
