As guests enter the Governor’s Mansion through the front doorway, they come into the Reception Hall. The floor here is made of black marble squares from Belgium and white marble squares from Tennessee. The two Empire sofas, spread-eagle console tables, and mirrors in this area were formerly used in the old Executive Mansion on Capitol Street.

The round rosewood table, made in 1830, holds a very beautiful solid silver punch bowl handmade in the Orient in the late 19th Century and once owned by Governor MacCorkle. The focal point of this room is the wonderful dual Georgian staircase, made of mahogany wood, and capped with solid-cut crystal ball finials on the newel posts. The arched entry portal and restored chandelier are Georgian.

The walls of the foyer and upper alcove were redesigned in April 2006 in a gold damask affect. The design was an original; created especially for the West Virginia Governor's Mansion.