Molly Brown House | |
Location | 1340 Pennsylvania St., Denver, Colorado |
---|---|
Coordinates | 39°44′15.0″N104°58′50.6″W / 39.737500°N 104.980722°W |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1889 |
Architect | William A. Lang, Land Developers John W. Smith and George W. Clayton |
Architectural style | Queen Anne Richardsonian Romanesque |
NRHP reference No. | 72000269 [1] |
CSRHP No. | 5DV.178 |
Added to NRHP | February 1, 1972 |
The Molly Brown House Museum (also known as House of Lions) is a house in Denver, Colorado, United States that was the home of American philanthropist, activist, and socialite Margaret Brown. She survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic and was known as the "Heroine of the Titanic" for her service to survivors. She later became known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown". The museum is her former home and presents exhibits interpreting her life, Victorian Denver and historic preservation. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It is designated as a Denver Landmark.
The house was designed by architect William A. Lang, [2] and built in 1889, incorporating several popular styles of the period, including Queen Anne style architecture in the United States and Richardsonian Romanesque for the original owners Isaac and Mary Large. After the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893, the Large family sold the house. It was purchased by James Joseph Brown (J.J.), Margaret's husband, in 1894 for US$30,000 and the title was transferred to Margaret in 1898, possibly due to J.J.'s deteriorating health.
Margaret and the family traveled frequently, and so the house was often rented out. In 1902, it was the governor's mansion for the Governor of Colorado and his family (Margaret invited the governor and his family to use her home while the governor's mansion was undergoing remodeling). In 1926, Margaret turned the home into a boarding house under the supervision of her housekeeper. [3] The house was sold after Margaret's death in 1932, for $6,000. The home then became a rooming house for men, a Jane Addams Hull House settlement, and rooms and apartments for rent.
The house continued to deteriorate and by 1970 concerns arose about its impending demolition, but a group of concerned citizens formed Historic Denver, Inc., raising the funds for the house to be restored to its former state. While restoring the home, the group used architectural research, paint chip analysis, and original photographs taken in 1910 as guides. The home is owned by Historic Denver, Inc., and public tours are run daily for a fee. [4] It has been a museum since 1971. [5]
There is a trail marker outside the home as part of the National Votes for Women Trail; [6] the marker was stolen in November 2023, but was found later that month. [7]
Leadville is a statutory city that is the county seat, the most populous community, and the only incorporated municipality in Lake County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 2,633 at the 2020 census. It is situated at an elevation of 10,119 feet (3,084 m). Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States and is surrounded by two of the tallest peaks in the state.
Margaret Brown, posthumously known as the "Unsinkable Molly Brown", was an American socialite and philanthropist. She was a survivor of the RMS Titanic, which sank in 1912, and she unsuccessfully urged the crew in Lifeboat No. 6 to return to the debris field to look for survivors.
The Brown Palace Hotel, now The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Autograph Collection, is a historic hotel in Denver, Colorado, United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the second-longest operating hotel in Denver. It is one of the first atrium-style hotels ever built. It is now operated by HEI Hotels and Resorts, and joined Marriott's Autograph Collection Hotels in 2012. The hotel is located at 321 17th Street between 17th Street, Broadway and Tremont Place in downtown Denver behind the Republic Plaza. The main entrance door is on Tremont Place. The Brown Palace Hotel, now The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Autograph Collection is member of Historic Hotels of America since 2023.
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James Joseph "J.J." Brown, was an American mining engineer, inventor, and self-made member of fashionable society. His wife was RMS Titanic survivor Margaret Brown.
Washington Park is a neighborhood and public urban park in Denver, Colorado. The Washington Park is a blend of historic and contemporary styles of architecture. The park was first developed by Architect Reinhard Schuetze in 1899. Its design was influenced by city planner Kessler, the Olmsted Brothers and philanthropist Margaret Brown. The park is popular with both tourists and area residents, with some comparing it to New York City's Central Park. Apart from activities such as walking, biking or volleyball, the park serves as a center for community gatherings, such as the annual Furry Scurry. Wedding receptions are often held in the historic boathouse pavilion. In 2012 the American Planning Association designated the park one of its "Great Public Spaces in America".
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The Unsinkable Molly Brown is a 1960 musical with music and lyrics by Meredith Willson and book by Richard Morris. The plot is a fictionalized account of the life of Margaret Brown, who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic, and her wealthy miner-husband. A musical film version, also titled The Unsinkable Molly Brown, with screenplay by Helen Deutsch, was released in 1964.
Grant–Humphreys Mansion in Denver, Colorado, was built in 1902, in the Neoclassical style of architecture by Boal and Harnois, for James Benton Grant following his one term as the third Governor of Colorado (1883–1885). The house has been home to two families.
Avoca Lodge, known as The Molly Brown Summer House, is located in southwest Denver, Colorado near Bear Creek. The home served as a summer retreat for philanthropist, socialite, and activist Margaret Brown and her husband James Joseph Brown. Brown was known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" because she survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. The house is open to the public for rental and tours. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since January 26, 1990.
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The Byers–Evans House is a historic house museum in Denver, Colorado, United States. It is the home of History Colorado's Center for Colorado Women's History. It has also been known as Evans House and is a Denver Landmark under that name. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing building in the Civic Center Historic District.
Edward Divine White Jr., FAIA, was an architect based in Denver, Colorado, whose forty-year practice focused on contemporary architecture and historic preservation. Along with his architectural practice, White was lifelong friend to Jack Kerouac from 1947 to Kerouac's death in 1969. The pair exchanged over 90 letters and postcards during that time.
William A. Lang (1846–1897) was an architect active in Denver, Colorado from 1885 to 1893. On his own or in partnership, he designed a number of buildings that survive and are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Lang partnered with Marshall Pugh to form Lang & Pugh in 1889. The firm also employed Reinhard Schuetze for a time.
William Gray Evans was the oldest son of Colorado's second territorial governor, John Evans and Margaret Gray Evans. He was president of the Denver Tramway Company. He oversaw the completion of the Moffat Tunnel and worked for four years on the City Beautiful project of Mayor Robert Walter Speer. He owned the Byers-Evans House, now the Byers-Evans House Museum, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Anne Evans was an American arts patron. She devoted her life to the founding and support of some of Colorado's largest cultural institutions, including the Denver Art Museum, the Central City Opera, and the Denver Public Library. She had decades of experience in leadership positions, particularly in the field of art. She was also a leader of a conservation effort and a fundraiser during World War I.
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