The restoration of a historic home is a difficult and costly undertaking. Everyone involved must strive to remain true to the original content and design, while bringing the home into the 21st century. This account explains the use of countless experts, artisans and craftsmen to make the house, designed by Alexander Parris and extensively altered by Duncan Lee and many of the residents and their families, comfortable and functional for both the public and private needs of a Governor's residence. As is normally true of a project such as this one, it expanded well past its original plan to include the grounds and outbuildings of the entire compound.

All of this is told with an insider's knowledge of the behind the scenes problems and their solutions. Beautifully supported with illustrations and photos from historical archives, as well as pictures detailing the actual restoration, we can see the "before and after" of the delicate transformation of the oldest, continuously used state residence.