We have now lived in Colorado for many years and had never been to the Brown Palace. We have heard a lot of things about this historic downtown Denver hotel, but up until a few weeks ago, we had not taken the time to go in and check it out.
The first thing that I have to say after visiting was that it was bigger and smaller all at the same time if that is possible. Apparently being tall and skinny makes it look bigger. I loved how stylish it is, and how inviting all the staff made me feel while I was there. I talked to a desk clerk as well as the concierge. They were very helpful and even gave me a self-guided tour book of the hotel. They do have guided tours, which I will get into later, but I ended up just doing the self-guided tour the day I was there.
As stated, the first thing that I noticed was its elegance and sophistication. I loved the cast-iron panels that surround the balconies of the eight floors of the hotel. For some reason, which they do not even know why two of the panels were installed upside down. There is also a huge stone right at the entrance of the spa which is Mexican Onyx. It is absolutely beautiful. There are actually 13,400 surface feet of Onyx which was the most ever used in any building when the hotel was constructed and opened on August 12, 1892.
Another note of interest is the clock above the front desk. I found out it was sculptured by the artist Robert Shure and features the Brown Palace Griffin Logo. I was immediately intrigued as my maiden name was Griffin and it was also the mascot for the high school I went to. Just thought it was very interesting. For those who may not know, the Griffin is a mythical creature that is half eagle and half lion. What I did not know was that it’s supposed to represent the guardian of treasure. Extremely cool.
Why not enjoy a meal or two while staying or visiting the Brown Palace? There are several bars and restaurants that look like they would provide a very pleasant dining experience. The first one you see when you walk in is Ellyngton's which serves contemporary American breakfast and lunch.
The restaurant/bar that really grabbed my attention was Palace Arms and Churchill Bar. While the Palace Arms is the jewel of fine dining at the Brown Palace, the Churchill Bar is a great place to enjoy a sophisticated retreat in a quiet club atmosphere.
The other bar I wanted to share was the Ship Tavern. What's cool about this place is that it was opened in 1934 shortly after the repeal of prohibition. Today they state that they serve the region's best prime rib, as well as exceptional micro-brewed beers and wines.
As I mentioned earlier, the hotel offers tours on the general history of The Brown Palace Hotel every Wednesday and Saturday at 3 p.m. Tours are approximately 1h 15min in length and cost $10 per person. Children must be 10 years of age or older. Below are some of the themed tours offered:
- The Ghost Tour: Highlights tales of unexplained phenomena and spirits
- Architectural Tour: Appreciate the building’s past grandeur and present-day preservation.
- Affairs of the Heart Tour: Learn about the secrets from the infamous 1911 murder to employee love stories.
- Presidential Tour: Discover their connections and history-making presidential visits.
- Ladies of The Brown Tour:Find out about the women who played an important role in Brown Palace history.
With a hotel that has been open so long, you can imagine that a lot has happened in those years. Here are some interesting facts that I would like to share:
- On Aug. 12, 1892: The Brown Palace Hotel opened its doors in the heart of downtown Denver. The hotel has remained open and welcomed guests every minute of every day since opening.
- Every U.S. president has visited The Brown Palace since Teddy Roosevelt (1905), with the exception of Calvin Coolidge.
- The hotel's original artesian well is located 720 feet deep beneath the Ship Tavern floor and still provides water to every faucet in the hotel.
- Four of the hotel's suites are named for famous guests: The Beatles Suite, Eisenhower Suite, Reagan Suite, and Teddy Roosevelt Suite.
- The Brown Palace Club, located on the second floor, served as campaign headquarters for Dwight D. Eisenhower prior to his election as president.
- Except for crackers and sandwich bread, the hotel prepares all of its own baked goods in a unique, carousel oven - cataloged at more than 65 years old. The oven is one of only three in the world known to be in existence and is still used every day.
- President Eisenhower hit a wayward golf ball while practicing in the room and made a dent in the fireplace mantel in the Eisenhower Suite. It remains today in a shadowbox as a souvenir.
I really enjoyed checking out the Brown Palace and want to come back for dinner and a beer at the Ship Tavern. I wish we hadn't taken over 8 years to check out this wonderful hotel. It is quite unique and exciting to roam around and soak up the history that is the Brown Palace. Here is a link to their website if you want to plan your own visit.
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