Historic Homes of Denver: Historic Homes and Buildings Series, Historic Molly Brown House

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Palm Realty BK3273458

In the 1950's and 1960's, the city of Denver almost lost the beloved Historic Molly Brown House.  Today the Historic Molly Brown House is a cherished museum located at 1340 Pennsylvania St.  The Historic Molly Brown House Museum is run and protected by Historic Denver, Inc.
                                                                                      
The Historic Molly Brown House was built in 1889 for Issac and Mary Large who made their wealth during the Silver Rush.  Well known Denver architect, William Lang, designed the Historic Molly Brown House, and combined several different architectural styles including the popular Victorian Queen Ann style, neoclassical and Richardsonian Romanesque styles when designing the home.  When built, the Historic Molly Brown House was considered very modern in terms of technology as she had indoor plumbing, steam heat, electricity and even telephone service!                                                                  
 





Within 5 years of completion of the home, the Large's sold the Historic Molly Brown House to J.J. and Margaret "Maggie" Brown.  You may wonder who this Maggie Brown was.  Well, Maggie Brown IS Molly Brown!  After the sinking of the Titanic, when the movie "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" was made and released in 1964, Hollywood changed Margaret's name to Molly.   




Molly and J.J. traveled extensively, and when they were away from Denver, they would rent out the Historic Molly Brown House to well-to-do families.  In 1902 during a period when the Governor's Mansion was undergoing renovations, the Historic Molly Brown House was rented to then Colorado Governor James Orman and his family.

After J.J.'s death in 1922, Molly's wealth dwindled.  Molly turned the Historic Molly Brown House into a boarding house.  After Molly's death in 1932, the Historic Molly Brown House was sold.  The Historic Molly Brown House continued to be used as a boarding house until 1960 when the Historic Molly Brown House was used as a home for wayward girls.  Urban Renewal threatened the very existence of the Historic Molly Brown House in the late 1960's when many Historic Homes of Denver were torn down to make way for high-rise apartments and parking lots.

A group of concerned Denver residents formed Historic Denver, Inc. in 1970 and saved the Historic Molly Brown House from demolition!  With paint analysis, architectural research, and historical photographs of the Historic Molly Brown House, the home was restored to it's turn of the century brilliance! 

You can visit the Historic Molly Brown House and enjoy a guided tour.  To learn more, visit www.mollybrown.org 



Posted by

Kerry

 If You have any questions about homes on the Space Coast, the Treasure Coast or in the greater Orlando area, please contact me at  321-626-5968.  Visit us on the web at

www.PalmRealty.com

Posted By: Kerry Klun - 321-626-5868
kerry@Palmrealty.com

Palm Realty

             

Comments (2)

Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Kerry, I had no idea that the real Molly Brown was from Denver! Thanks for another wonderful lesson in historic homes of Denver!

Jun 12, 2010 05:37 AM
Eva Beshears
Murney Associates, Realtors - Springfield, MO
Realtor for Springfield, MO Area

Thank you for the interesting information!!!  I can't wait to read your other blogs :)

Nov 08, 2011 06:40 AM

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