First House: Two Centuries of Virginia's First Families

Virginia’s Executive Mansion is the oldest, continuously occupied governor’s residence in America. It was conceived during the Revolutionary War, built during the War of 1812 and saved from fire during the Civil War. Along the way it has served as the center of family life, official business and public events for more than 50 presiding governors.
A companion to the book by Mary Miley Theobald, the program explores the Executive Mansion’s history, architecture and the experiences of the families who have lived there. Interviews with current and former First Family members, mansion staff, and the book’s author weave together the story that celebrates the bicentennial of Virginia’s First House.