The decoration of the Governor’s Executive Mansion is completed each year in time for the Holiday Open House Tours (Dec 11-14). Unfortunately for most North Carolina residents, the tours were limited to the daylight hours and getting a glimpse of the decorations at night once lit are are limited to peering through the brick walls and cast iron fencing that surround the grounds. For a 1967 view before the fence went up, check out The Blount Street Saga in the Reminiscences of a Raleigh Boy series.

Dolly Sickles of WRAL provides some interesting facts of the Executive Mansion decorations in her blog entry:

Musical groups from across the state will provide festive music during the public tours this week, when more than 12,000 people will tour the mansion. The trees and wreaths are from Barr Evergreens in Crumpler, Sturgill Tree Farms in West Jefferson, and Bluff Mountain Nursery in Hot Springs. The poinsettias are from Homewood Nursery in Raleigh. All other greenery is from the Executive Mansion grounds. Each year, it takes approximately 15 volunteers four days to decorate the Executive Mansion for Christmas.

The North Carolina State Archives has an interesting web site with photos of the history of Christmas decorations at the Executive Mansion that is worth checking out.

Pictured above is only the second public sundial in Raleigh that I’m aware of. The first is on NCSU’s campus. I think it’s a shame that it is completely hidden behind the imposing brick walls.

Perhaps next year we can convince the new incoming Governor to have night time tours of the grounds in addition to the day time ones.

To see a complete slideshow, check out Dolly’s photo gallery.