The Governor Ross Sterling Mansion, also known as the First Texas White House, goes up for auction via Concierge Auctions in December. The stately is home located on Morgan’s Point off Galveston Bay in the town of La Porte, Texas.
The estate was built in 1924 by Alfred Finn for the 31st governor of Texas and was first named Miramar – meaning “sea view.” If the design looks familiar, that’s no accident, this scaled-down replica of the United States White House was placed on a headland with unobstructed bay views and direct beach access from its 28-foot rotunda portico. According to the history of the property, the governor handed the architect a $20 bill, pointed to the back and said, “Build this for me.” And so he did.
The six-acrs property is registered by the National Register of Historic Places and the Texas Historical Commission. Interiors of the nine-bedroom estate feature marble and oak flooring, gilded and carved moldings, pressed-tin ceilings, and an antique stone fireplace. There is also a ballroom, a rooftop terrace, and a beautiful library.
The home spans over 20,000 square feet and been authentically restored and updated for modern living. After the governor’s tenure, the home was owned by a civic club in the 1940s and was later a boys’ home. Subsequent owners took on the task of bringing the home back to its past glory, including the construction of a retaining wall.
Virtual bidding begins on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. through Concierge Auctions via the firm’s Instant Gavel app.
