Crew cut official governor's Christmas tree

SOURCE: KARE 11

PINE CITY, Minn. - A crew has cut down a 50-foot balsam fir in the Chengwatana State Forest that will grace the Governor's Residence in St. Paul this holiday season.

The Department of Natural Resources harvested the tree on Thursday. Members of Conservation Corps Minnesota assisted with the cutting and loading of the tree.

The tree will be set up at the governor's official residence on Summit Avenue on Monday morning.

Minn. Governor's Residence Opens For Public Tours

Source: WCCO

ST. PAUL (AP) ― The nine-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion that serves as the official home of Minnesota governors opens for public tours starting Tuesday.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and his family spend part of their time there, while also maintaining their home in Eagan.Tours are open to the public from 1 to 3 p.m. on the first three Tuesdays of June, July and August. Photo identification is required to enter the building.

The 20-room house on St. Paul's storied Summit Avenue has nine fireplaces.

It was donated to the state by Clotilde Irvine Moles and Olivia Irvine Dodge in 1965.

Then-Gov. Karl Rolvaag and first lady Florence Rolvaag were the first gubernatorial family to move in, in 1966. It has housed every governor since.

The home was originally designated as the State Ceremonial Building

Rach's note: There is official website for the mansion in case if you want to get more look or get more information. I have been to the mansion on several occasions during Carlson, Ventura and Pawlenty's administrations. It is very beautiful house in really nice neighborhood.

Minnesota Governor's Residence website