Executive Mansion plan spring tours including garden tours for kids

You can now register for tours of North Carolina's Executive Mansion, the official home of the governor.

There are a couple of kinds of tours. Here are the details:

Executive Mansion tours of the house are on Wednesdays and Thursdays only through June 21. They happen  at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 and 3 p.m., and are designed for all ages.

Executive Mansion Garden tours also are offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays from April 4 to May 31 at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Wednesday garden tours are designed for children. The Thursday garden tours are designed for adults.

For both, pre-registration is a must. Groups of 10 or more can book through Capital Area Visitor Services at 919-807-7950. Smaller groups and individuals may join scheduled tours if space is available and should make reservations with Rachel Moore at 919-715-3962 or rachel.moore@ncdcr.gov. Space is limited for these.

Some fun facts about the mansion, according to the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources:

• It was designed by prominent architect Samuel Sloan.
• It serves as a repository for a fine collection of 18th and 19th century North Carolina furnishings and paintings.
• Completed in 1891, the house has been home to the state’s governors and their families and has served as a political, social, and cultural center of the state for more than 100 years.
• The house is one of the few executive mansions in the nation built specifically for that purpose.

Admission is free. The state's website has more information. The house is at 200 N. Blount St.