Historic Hotels of America

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Admire the excellent craftsmanship of The Brown Palace Hotel. Listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1970, this Denver institution has been recognized as one of the best hotels in Colorado ever since its opening in 1892. It was even featured on the cover of that year’s May issue of Scientific American magazine, where it was hailed as a “modern marvel.” No expense was spared in its creation, which cost a monumental $2 million. Today, guests can still appreciate the hotel’s stately Italian Renaissance style, which utilize luxurious materials like Colorado red granite, Arizona sandstone, and imported Mexico onyx to stunning effect. The Brown Palace also holds the distinction of being only the second fire-proofed building in the United States at the time of its construction, thanks to the use of hollow blocks of porous terracotta in place of wood for the walls and floors.

Marvel at the hotel’s truly palatial design. One of the first atrium-style hotels ever constructed, The Brown Palace dazzles guests with its towering eight-story lobby, which is rimmed with intricate wrought-iron balconies. Its crowning glory, however, is a glittering stained-glass ceiling, further adding to the jewel-box-like setting. The best way to take in this soaring space is during the hotel’s elegant afternoon tea, while sipping on a cocktail and enjoying some live jazz in the evenings, or by embarking on one of its twice-weekly public tours.

Follow in the footsteps of the many famous guests who have stayed at The Brown Palace Hotel, from celebrities such as John Wayne and The Beatles to icons and luminaries like Thomas Edison and Charles Lindbergh. Other distinguished individuals to grace the hotel’s guest list include no less than 17 former U.S. presidents (during the Eisenhower presidency, The Brown Palace earned the nickname “Western White House” due to their frequent visits) and even the “Unsinkable Molly Brown,” who stayed at The Brown Palace only a couple of weeks after surviving the fateful Titanic disaster. The hotel also played host to one especially momentous event in history. In October 1911, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a Chinese revolutionary who had been exiled from his homeland nearly two decades earlier, checked into Room 321 in the late hours of the evening. His stay would be a short one, however, thanks to a telegram that was delivered to his room the very next morning. As it turns out, the revolution to overthrow the Qing Dynasty had been a success. He finally returned home after 16 years in exile where he was voted the provisional president of the new Republic of China.