Stanford Mansion "Where California Meets the World"
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A Brief History of Stanford Mansion
 Photo courtesy of Jesse Bravo
- Built in 1856 for grocery wholesaler Sheldon C. Fogus.
- Purchased in 1861 by Governor Leland Stanford, who enlarged the home from 2,000 square feet to its current 19,000 square feet to accommodate his expanding business and political life.
- Birthplace of Leland Stanford, Jr., namesake of Stanford University.
- Home and office for Civil War-era governor, Frederick Low, who received the first visit to California by a United States President – President Rutherford B. Hayes and his Secretary of Defense, General George Sherman.
- Office for Governor Henry Haight until the Capitol was opened in 1869.
- Donated by Jane Stanford to the Bishop of Sacramento in 1900, to serve as a home for “friendless children.” Hundreds of children received care in the Mansion, until 1985. Hundreds of boys and girls received care and support in the Mansion from the Sisters of Mercy and later the Sisters of Social Service.
- By 1963, maintaining the aging Mansion for use as a children’s home was increasingly difficult. The Bishop of Sacramento appealed to Governor Edmund G. Brown for the State to acquire it for its historic value.
- Ambassador ‘Bill’ Lane led the bond measure that acquired the property and set in motion the idea that the Mansion might one day be used to receive California’s most important guests.
- In 1974, the California Legislature authorized purchase of the Mansion as a state historic site. Governor Ronald Reagan completed the purchase in 1978.
- Governor George Deukmejian classified the Mansion as the Stanford House State Historic Park in 1983. In 1987, the Mansion was officially designated as a National Historic Landmark.
- In 1988, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 65 (Sen. Rebecca Morgan) was passed with strong bi-partisan support encouraging the Department of Parks to explore use of the Mansion for hosting visiting dignitaries, similar to Blair House, for economic development purposes.
- By 1990, Stanford Mansion was in total disrepair. When the California Department of Parks acquired the Mansion, major roof damage had already taken place and rain was causing significant damage to the structure. California was about to lose one of its most significant historic structures.
- In 1990, Governor Wilson’s office contacted local Sacramento leader Muriel Johnson help to form a foundation and raise funds to help the State save Stanford Mansion. She recruited Peter McCuen, a respected former professor at Stanford University, successful international businessman and Sacramento land developer to serve as Chair. He gathered around him a board of similar luminaries from Sacramento and around the state.
- The Leland Stanford Mansion Foundation was officially incorporated in 1991. The initial Board included:
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Honorary Chair
Sharon Davis, First Lady of California
Honorary Co-Chair
Gayle Wilson
Honorary Co-Chair
The Honorable Rebecca Morgan
Foundation Chair
Susan Peters McCuen
Foundation Treasurer
Timothy Stenvick
Executive Steering Committee
The Honorable L. W. (Bill) Lane
Robert W. Naylor
Thomas F. Gede
Marcy Friedman
Ex-Officio Member
Janelle Miller, California Department of Parks and Recreation
Ex-Officio Member
Jane Van Brussel, Stanford Mansion Docent Representative to Foundation
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Board of Directors
William F. Black, Chief of Protocol,
State of California
Ted A. Bravos
Eli Broad
The Honorable Thomas J. Campbell
Jane F. Carter
John J. Coffey
Bradford M. Freeman
The Honorable Muriel Johnson
Burnett Miller
Robert E. Welk
Julie Meier Wright
Melinda Wulff
Honorary Board Members
Gerhard Casper
The Honorable & Mrs. George Deukmejian
William R. Hewlett
Dr. Donald Kennedy
Mrs. Virginia (Goodwin) Knight
Robert D. Krebs
Melvin B. Lane
President & Mrs. Ronald W. Reagan
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- The original estimate to restore the Mansion was $10 million. The State was to provide half and the private sector half. The final cost, including a $1.5 million endowment, was approximately $23 million and both partners ultimately contributed equally.
- Fundraising initially focused on restoring the Mansion for use as an historic park, open to the public. However, prospective donors soon revealed a lack of willingness to help reach that goal for that purpose. At that time, First Lady Gayle Wilson and Senator Becky Morgan re asserted the need by the Governor’s Office for a facility where visiting heads of State and other dignitaries could be properly received. Donors were willing to support that combined agenda. However, soon thereafter California suffered a financial recession and the proposed ‘swift’ campaign went, in the words of Mr. McCuen, ‘from a sprint to a marathon.’ The Foundation persevered and helped to gather the total needed from private and public sources.
 - The Foundation then played an active role in helping the Department of Parks carry out the actual renovation. Through the collaborative efforts of key Parks leadership and staff with members of the Foundation Board, the renovation was accomplished. Midway in the renovation, Mr. McCuen passed away and leadership of the Board and renovation was effectively assumed by his wife, Susan Peters. Together with the Executive Committee and individual members of the Board, the Foundation successfully provided its support to the completion of the total project.
- A special reunion for the children of Stanford Mansion was held in 2005 in the newly renovated building. With often deeply mixed emotions they visited their former home that some felt had been lost prematurely, while they clearly enjoyed renewed contact with childhood friends.
- The beautifully renovated Stanford Mansion re-opened officially in 2005 with two stunning events; the first being for state officials, major donors, and project leaders, and the second for the public at-large. Both were tremendous successes.
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