Albert Gallatin House, 1527 H Street, Sacramento, Sacramento County, CA

Significance: Although its use as a Governor's Mansion dates only from 1903, this house has been a consistent pivotal center of 20th century political events in California, as well as the focus of important social history. Built as a private residence, it brings something of the grand scale of the silver age of the 1870's to the present day; although its architectural character is less distinguished than the former Fogus (later Stanford) home, it represents a particularly interesting combination of the disintegrating stylistic eclecticism of the Victorian era with an audacity of plan and elevation which lead to modern architecture. Its remarkable height on so flat a site gave it added prominence in the 19th century, as well as providing a symbolic centrality to the house (with its physical dramatic gas light in the tower) which has been reinforced by subsequent political occupants of the residence. / Built in 1877 for Albert Gallatin, the mansion became the official residence of the Governor of California in 1903 and served in this capacity until 1967 when Governor Reagan moved out. The mansion was well recognized in the nineteenth century as one of the grand houses of Sacramento and, although altered frequently since acquisition by the State, remains one of the finest examples of the Second Empire-Italianate style in the city.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-244, FN-245
Survey number: HABS CA-1886
Building/structure dates: 1877 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1903-1907 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1918- 1919 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1943 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1967 Subsequent Work