Grant–Humphreys Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grant–Humphreys Mansion
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The Grant–Humphreys Mansion on Pennsylvania Street in Denver, Colorado
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| Location | 770 Pennsylvania St Denver, Colorado |
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| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Boal and Harnois |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000160 |
| Added to NRHP | September 30, 1970 |
The Grant–Humphreys Mansion is a historic house in Denver, Colorado. It was built in 1902 in the Neoclassical style, which means it looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. The architects were Boal and Harnois. This grand house was first built for James Benton Grant, who had been the third Governor of Colorado from 1883 to 1885. Over the years, two important families have called this mansion home.
Contents
Who Lived in the Grant Mansion?
James Grant's Life and Work
James Benton Grant was famous for his work in the ore smelting industry. Smelting is a process that takes metals out of rocks. He started his work in Leadville and later moved to Denver. His company, the Grant Smelting Company, was a big deal. It had one of the tallest furnace chimneys in the country and was the third largest in the world!
Mary Grant: A Community Leader
Mr. Grant's wife, Mary Matteson Goodell, was a very important person in Denver society. She was part of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a group that honors people who helped in the American Revolution. Mary also helped start a home for children who didn't have a place to live. After her husband passed away in 1911, she stayed in the mansion for six more years. In 1917, she sold the house to Albert E. Humphreys.
The Humphreys Family at the Mansion
Albert Humphreys: The "Wildcatter" King
Albert E. Humphreys was known as "The Wildcatter Deluxe" or the "King of the Wildcatters." A "wildcatter" is someone who explores for oil in new, unproven areas. He was very successful at finding oil in Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Texas. Albert and his wife, Alice, were also known for their generous acts of charity. They moved to Denver in 1898 with their two sons, Ira and Albert E. Jr. Ira later married Lucille Pattison, and they lived in the mansion with Albert and Alice.
Ira and Albert Jr.: Aviation Pioneers
Ira was the family's mechanical genius, while Albert E. Jr. was good at managing the family's oil business. Both brothers loved airplanes! In 1918, they opened Denver's first commercial airport in North Park Hill. This was ten years before the Denver Municipal Airport, which later became Stapleton International Airport.
In 1919, Ira Boyd "Bumps" Humphreys started the Curtiss-Humphreys Airplane Company. He also invented something amazing in 1941 called the Humphreys Spiral Concentrator. This invention was used a lot in mining to separate minerals and heavy metals from low-quality ores. In 1969, both Ira and Albert were honored by being added to the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame. This Hall of Fame is located at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver.
Caring for the Mansion Today
The Colorado Historical Society now takes care of the Grant–Humphreys Mansion. They received the mansion in 1976, thanks to a gift from Ira Boyd Humphreys. The walls inside the mansion were once covered in a special fabric called damask, but it eventually wore out and was removed.
