Colorado's haunted architecture - Brown Palace Hotel

October 31, 1:56 PMDenver Architecture ExaminerDavid Goode

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Brown Palace Hotel

Colorado possesses some wonderful architecture dating back many years.  Wealthy families built grand residences and buildings to escape the hard, early American West life.  Many of these structures remain and have found new life.  However, there are some old lives who haven’t quite left.

The Brown Palace Hotel still stands amongst Denver's most luxurious accommodations.  The landmark hotel has had dozens of high profile guests including Presidents, world leaders, Hollywood celebrities, and rock stars.

Architect Frank E. Edbrooke was hired to design the hotel and chose a Renaissance Revival architecture featuring a granite and sandstone facade.  Edbrooke also designed several other landmark buildings, including Central Presbyterian Church and the Masonic Temple Building.  For a finishing touch, artist James Whitehouse was commissioned to create 26 medallions carved in stone, each depicting a native Rocky Mountain animal. These medallions can still be seen between the seventh floor windows on the hotel’s exterior.

There are numerous stories about mysterious guests and hotel staff lingering in the halls and rooms.  One of the more prominent stories is of the woman who lived and died in Room 904.  Mrs. Crawford Hill was the queen of Denver society and her life story ended with heartbreak and resulted in her living the last 15 years of her life in Suite 904.  The "lovers and scandals" tours of the hotel included Mrs. Hill's story.  After these new tours first began, the switchboard was overwhlemed with calls from Room 904.  When answered, there was only static on the line.  Afterall, the 9th floor was being renovated and had been stripped of furniture, carpeting, wallpaper, lights, wires — and telephones. The calls stopped after Room 904 was dropped from the tour.

After a night in the Brown Palace hotel guests often state, "I wish could stay here forever."  Some visitors may have had their wishes come true.