The Governor's Mansion at the corner of 16th and H Streets in downtown Sacramento, today a state historic park, how has 110 individually controlled LEDs to illuminate the mansion, carriage house and the abundant flowers, shrubs and trees, dating back to 1877. The grounds lighting was the idea of Michael Sestak (Sestak Lighting Design), along with Andy Thomas (Viewpoint Lighting), Scott Sissom (Elegant Outdoor Lighting) and members of the Sacramento Chapter of the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals. Low-flow irrigation was also donated by a number of local companies. The lighting and irrigation donations are valued at $100,000 in materials and labor.

A Sacramento Victorian mansion, built in 1877 for a hardware store owner, was purchased for $32,500 from Joseph and Louisa Steffens by the state of California in 1903 to house California first families. Gov. George Pardee, wife Helen and four daughters were the first residents of the Governor's Mansion.

Over the next 64 years, it was home to 12 governors and their families, most notably Earl Warren, who would later be appointed Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and a fellow who went from acting to president of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Reagan was the last governor to live in the mansion. It is now part of the Governor's Mansion State Historic Park.

Working through the Sacramento Historic Sites Association, a determined group of Governor's Mansion docents worked diligently over the past 30 years to raise $100,000 for restoration of the mansion's third floor to its original 1877 glory. Among the mansion's accouterments are Italian marble fireplaces, French gold-framed mirrors and handcrafted hinges and doorknobs from the Victorian era. Indoor work included replastering walls, recreating the original paint finishes, refinishing decorative hard-wood floors in the billiard room and ballroom, and fabricating custom Victorian-style carpets for stairs, hallways and the parlor. The team still hopes to acquire the funds for Victorian chandeliers, making due now with ones generously donate by a local resident.

On Nov. 4, 2013, the California State Parks, and the California State Historic Governor's Mansion Foundation sponsored a "Light Up the Night" event to celebrate the completion of the third floor renovation. Gov. Jerry Brown was on hand to flip the switch to light up the mansion and grounds.

For more information on the Governor's Mansion State Historic Park, visit www.parks.ca.gov/governorsmansion.