Cedar Crest is on top of a hill in western Topeka. The Kansas River can be seen. It was designed by the architectural firm of Wight and Wight in 1928. They built it for "Topeka State Journal" and "Emporia News" newspaper publisher Frank P. MacLennan. MacLennan died in 1933; when his widow died in 1955, she gave "Cedar Crest" to the state of Kansas. She said she would give it to the state only if it is used as a home for the governor of Kansas. The gift included of land near it to be used as a park (now known as MacLennan Park). Since 1962 it has been used as the governor's house.