The Baguio Mansion House was originally built as the summer headquarters for American Governors-General. Eventually, it became the official summer residence of the President of the Philippines, starting during the Commonwealth period. Located on the eastern side of Baguio City, the mansion was completed in 1908, thanks to William Cameron Forbes, who named it after his family home in Massachusetts, USA.
It was designed by American architect William Parsons, following the ideas of the “City Beautiful Movement,” a popular architectural trend in North America at the time. Over the years, the Mansion House has witnessed some key moments in Philippine history. On 16 January 2009, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines [NHCP] officially recognized the Baguio Mansion House as a National Historical Landmark through Resolution No. 1 s. 2009. More recently, the mansion underwent a major renovation to accommodate valuable memorabilia and artifacts from past presidents, offering visitors a closer look at the history and legacy of the Philippine presidency. On 8 September 2024, the Baguio Mansion House reopened as the Presidential Museum, welcoming visitors to experience this historic site in Baguio City, the country’s summer capital.
