A Letter from the First Lady

Dear Friends,

I'm happy to welcome you to an organization dedicated to preserving Maine's historic governors’ residence and grounds. In 1919 The Blaine House was given to the State of Maine to serve as the official home of the Governor and his family. John, Jack, and I are the 25th family to live under the Blaine House roof in the role of Maine’s First Family.

We chose to move our family from Bangor to Augusta to be closer to the workings of the State government.. The Blaine House staff has made us feel more than welcome., and we really feel like we are home when we come up the driveway.. The downstairs portion of the Blaine House serves as a museum and we have a private residence upstairs. Many people are working to restore the historic grounds and to preserve and maintain the residence. for the future. When you visit the Blaine House you will find a new Victorian Greenhouse, restored Lilac and Rhododendron hedges, a cutting garden containing a section of Maine Heirloom plants, a vegetable garden and an herb bed. We are in the process of rehabilitating a part of the back yard to restore the New England Garden to match the original Olmsted plan of 1920.

The Blaine House has also become home to our pets, English Springer Spaniels Sam and Mia, and our cat, Theodore.

Thank you in advance for the support you give. Become as active a member as you want to be. Attend one of our Tea's and Lecture Series, purchase one of our limited edition Blaine House Collection tea cups, give gifts of our own cookbook - Recipes and Reminiscences by former Blaine House Chef Phyllis Siebert, or learn more about the Blaine House History as documented by historian H. Draper Hunt in "The Blaine House, Home of Maine Governors".

The public areas of the Blaine House are open to the public for tours Tuesday through Thursday, 2:00-4:00pm. We’d love to have you come in to visit what the Governor calls “The People’s House”.

Your efforts help us preserve our rich heritage for future generations of Mainers.

Thanks and welcome!

Karen M. Baldacci
First Lady of Maine