Molly Brown House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Molly Brown House
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Front of the house before restoration and painting completed in 2018
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1340 Pennsylvania St., Denver, Colorado |
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| 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 |
| Added to NRHP | February 1, 1972 |
The Molly Brown House Museum is a famous house in Denver, Colorado. It used to be the home of Margaret Brown, a very important American woman. She was known for helping others, being an activist, and being a socialite (someone who enjoys social events).
Margaret Brown became famous for surviving the sinking of the RMS Titanic. People called her the “Heroine of the Titanic” because she helped so many survivors. Later, she was known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." Today, her former home is a museum. It shows exhibits about her life, what Denver was like in the Victorian era, and how old buildings are saved. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It is also a special Denver Landmark.
History of the Molly Brown House
The house was designed by an architect named William A. Lang. It was built in 1889. The design mixed popular styles of that time. These included Queen Anne style architecture in the United States and Richardsonian Romanesque. The first owners were Isaac and Mary Large.
In 1893, a law called the Sherman Silver Purchase Act was ended. This caused money problems for the Large family. So, they sold the house. Margaret's husband, James Joseph Brown (J.J.), bought it in 1894 for $30,000. In 1898, the house was put in Margaret's name. This might have been because J.J.'s health was getting worse.
Margaret and her family traveled a lot. Because of this, the house was often rented out. In 1902, it even served as the governor's mansion for a while. Margaret invited the Governor of Colorado and his family to stay there. This was while the governor's own mansion was being fixed up. In 1926, Margaret turned the house into a boarding house. This meant people could rent rooms there. Her housekeeper managed it.
After Margaret passed away in 1932, the house was sold for $6,000. Over the years, it was used for different things. It became a place where men could rent rooms. It also served as a community center. Later, it was divided into apartments for rent.
Saving the Molly Brown House
The house slowly started to fall apart. By 1970, people worried it would be torn down. But a group of people who cared about history stepped in. They formed a group called Historic Denver, Inc.. This group worked hard to raise money. Their goal was to restore the house to its original beautiful state.
To restore the home, the group did a lot of research. They studied old architectural plans. They even analyzed tiny paint chips to find the original colors. They also used old photos from 1910 as guides. Today, Historic Denver, Inc. owns the home. They offer daily tours for visitors. It has been a museum since 1971.
Outside the house, there is a special marker. It is part of the National Votes for Women Trail. This marker tells about Margaret Brown's work for women's right to vote. The marker was stolen in November 2023, but luckily, it was found later that same month.
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Interior doorknob
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Brown Family Photo
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House 1889
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Captain Rostron and Margaret Brown with the Loving Cup
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Votes for Women
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Stained Glass Detail
See also
- The Molly Brown Summer House
