By Elizabeth Nickelaid
The History of Brown Palace Hotel
The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa opened its doors on Aug. 12, 1892. Once hosting prospectors in search of gold and silver, the
Denver hotel now welcomes guests seeking elegance and history.
Real Estate Prospector
Henry Cordes Brown, a carpenter-turned-land speculator from Ohio, bought a triangular plot in downtown Denver for his "palace." Brown was a philanthropist as well, donating seed money for the town's first library and land for the state Capitol.
Work Begins
Construction of the Italian Renaissance building began in 1888. The hotel is built of Colorado red granite and Arizona sandstone. No wood was used for floors or walls, making it the second fireproof building in the nation.
The Final Tally
After an expenditure of $2 million for construction and furnishings, an astronomical sum at the time, the Brown Palace Hotel opened with 400 guest rooms priced from $3 to $5 a night.
Fab Four
During the height of Beatles mania in 1964, young girls applied for hotel jobs in droves when they learned the lads from Liverpool would be staying there.
Presidential Pardon
Another famous guest, Dwight D. Eisenhower, dented the fireplace mantel in his namesake suite with an errant golf ball. The dent is still there today.
Resources
About the Author:
Elizabeth Nickelaid is an editor and writer with more than 20 years' experience in the newspaper industry. She has won state and national awards for headline writing and has collaborated with Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Wake Forest University.
Photo Credits:
wirawan/Flickr.com
