[2] The grounds are landscaped to include large lawns, gardens, walking paths, and a fountain surrounded by an imposing wrought-iron fence which was added in the late 1990s.

[2] The primary entrance to the residence on the north facade is off-center and marked by six white Doric columns which support a two-story dentiled pediment featuring a high roundel window.

[2] On the west side of the building is a one-story, three-stall garage with flat roof that doubles as a porch for the adjacent second-story guestrooms.

[2] A one-story sun room was added to the east side of the building to balance the opposite garage and is similarly by a porch which is also surrounded by white wood panels and brick columns.

[2] The incumbent governor at the time, Victor E. Anderson, took an active role in the design process for the mansion, but was careful to distance himself from the image of a man "feathering his own nest" with public money.

"[2] According to Cunningham, the design itself was perfectly acceptable in a different locale, but lamented its employment in this project, saying, "I am sorry that the distinguished architect, Selmer Solheim, was forced to inflict this sorry anachronism upon the people of Nebraska.

[2] Cunningham had introduced a resolution at a quarterly meeting of the Nebraska Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to ask Governor Anderson to request that Solheim redesign the building.

[2] On the day of the mansion's opening, Solheim published a poem to honor the building, the workers who had constructed it, and the taxpayers of Nebraska who had supported the venture;[citation needed] "All have a share in the beauty, All have a part in the plan What does it matter what duty Falls to the lot of man?

[4][6] Orr published recipes submitted by Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, Warren Buffett, Johnny Carson, Katharine Hepburn, Tom Osborne, and Dick Cavett in his cookbook.