Governor Ross Sterling Mansion

Architect Alfred C. Finn of Houston drew the plans for this scaled-down replica of the American White House for oil executive Ross S. Sterling (1875-1949). Completed in 1927 on the residential "Gold Coast" stretching from La Porte to Morgan's Point, it stood as a landmark on the Houston Ship Channel. By night its roof deck commanded a view of the lighted industrial plants in this region. Layers of stone, concrete, air space, and plastered lath form the thick exterior walls. Deeply sunken foundations and huge beams running the length of the structure give it hurricane resistance. With 21,000 square feet of floor space, this was known as the largest private residence in Texas at the time it was built. It has seven fireplaces, 15 baths, 34 rooms-- including a dining room seating 300 guests. Silver and gold inlaid sconces, fine cared woods, and Tiffany chandeliers form some of the adornments. There were elaborate facilities for recreation and for efficient housekeeping. Sterling and his wife Maude Abbie (Gage) had several children. Ross Sterling was governor of Texas 1931-1933. In 1946 he donated his mansion to a civic club and it was used as a juvenile home until 1961.

Governor Ross Sterling Mansion is a historical marker in Morgan's Point, Harris County, dedicated in 1978. It is one of 422 historical markers documented in Harris County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 849 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.6695, -94.9959 near Morgan's Point. The nearest cataloged historic site is Bay Ridge/Morgan's Point (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Sterling, Ross,S., House, Wade and Mamie Irvin House, and Gribble-Hofheinz Huse.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5201010782. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.