Woman who donated Minn. Governor's Residence dies

Governor's mansion
The Minnesota Executive Mansion, also known as the Horace Hills Irvine House, is the official residence of the governor. It stands at 1006 Summit Ave. in St. Paul.
MPR photo/Tom Weber

(AP) - Olivia Irvine Dodge, a philanthropist who donated the house that is now the Minnesota Governor's Residence, has died at the age of 90.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's office says Dodge died Saturday.

Dodge and her sister, Clotilde, donated the house on Summit Avenue to the state in 1965.

Dodge was a well-known environmentalist and philanthropist who founded the Thomas Irvine Dodge Nature Center in 1967. The center in West St. Paul and Mendota Heights teaches local schoolchildren about nature and the environment.

Dodge was also known for her collection of material about President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which is one of the largest in the country. She donated the collection to the University of Minnesota in 1975.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Dear reader,

Your voice matters. And we want to hear it.

Will you help shape the future of Minnesota Public Radio by taking our short Listener Survey?

It only takes a few minutes, and your input helps us serve you better—whether it’s news, culture, or the conversations that matter most to Minnesotans.

Volume Button
Volume
Now Listening To Livestream
MPR News logo
On Air
Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me! with Peter Sagal