by Michele Kadison

Way back in the late 1800s, Denver, Colorado’s high society was a burgeoning scene in what otherwise was the very wild west. A loud and bawdy woman named Molly Brown had made a lot of money with her husband James Brown (J.J. to his friends) from the Little Johnny Silver Mine in Leadville, Colorado. Anxious to be accepted by the society ladies, Molly tried to enter their protective world, but was rejected over and over again because of her excessive ways. Often shunned in public, Molly was not to be deterred. She and J.J. bought a large house that combined Romanesque, neo-renaissance, and Queen Anne styles. The outside of the house was made with lava stone and trimmed with red sandstone and wood, creating a strong statement as one of the finest abodes on Capitol Hill, an area that was home to many of Denver’s wealthiest families.

Off Molly would go to Europe where she would send back antiques to fill the house. While on her extravagant vacations, she attracted the attention of some of Europe’s most influential people, including royalty, who found her feisty ways exciting and fun. But her popularity in Europe never translated to her life in Denver, and so she spent very little time in her home there. In 1902 she rented the house to Governor James Orman and then kept it rented as she finally preferred to stay at the Brown Palace Hotel when she was back in Colorado.

Known as the “unsinkable” Molly Brown after surviving the sinking of the Titanic, Molly Brown’s legacy still stands as a testimony to Denver’s historical past. Visit the Molly Brown House to see her collected treasures in the restored home that boasts photos of her famous parties, original furniture, her array of bear rungs and coyote heads, along with exquisite collectibles that speak of this feisty woman’s thirst for life.

Address: 1340 Pennsylvania St., Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: 303-832-4092
Directions: On US 40 between Broadway and Ogden Streets, Capitol Hill
Admissions: $7.00 adults, $6.00 students & seniors over 64, $4.00 children 6 – 12
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am, Sunday 12, last tour 3:30 pm. 45 minute tours every half hour
Not accessible for the handicapped.

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