Baguio Mansion House featuring presidential memorabilia is now open to public
Here's a new tourist spot to visit in the City of Pines! Museum-goers can now come inside the Baguio Mansion House, the official summer palace of the President of the Philippines.
On Sunday, Sept. 8, Malacañang officially opened the gates of the Presidential Museum to the public, with First Lady Liza Marcos leading the opening rites. Other government officials, including Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco and Education Secretary Sonny Angara, joined her.
In a press interview, Palace Social Secretary Bianca Zobel stated that the Mansion House's popularity as a photo spot, which attracts up to 2,000 visitors on weekends, prompted the move.
"It's a good opportunity since this house was never really used, and it is also a continuation of the Malacañang Heritage Mansions that we have. This is something that we would like put in more areas so that people have that access and knowledge," she said.
Zobel added, “To enhance the experience, we invite everyone to explore and capture the beauty of the mansion house firsthand."
How to visit?
The Presidential Museum, which is located on Romulo Drive in Baguio City, directly across from Wright Park, features items and memorabilia from former leaders of the country, offering "an intimate glimpse of the history and heritage of the Philippine presidency."
It will be open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is free but tourists may make reservations in advance using the museum's website or the mansion's official social media platforms.
Walk-ins are also permitted but are restricted to 20 individuals per tour every 30 minutes, with a limited number of extra seats available if capacity allows.
The Mansion House was built in 1908 as the summer home of the American Governors-General.
In 2009, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (formerly the National Historical Institute) named it a National Historical Landmark.
Recently, the building underwent renovations to accommodate the museum's unique collection.
As part of a special program for students, the Presidential Museum has been giving private trips with guides to students from nearby colleges since August 2024.
On July 27 of this year, the Baguio Mansion House inaugurated its operations as the Presidential Museum in the country's summer capital.