Molly Brown House Undergoing Extensive Renovation

Margaret Tobin Brown became famous as a heroic survivor of the Titanic shipwreck that killed 1,500, but her spirit + aspirations were "unsinkable" throughout her colorful career as a leading philanthropist, activist and socialite. At age eighteen, Miss Tobin came to Colorado during the Gold Rush at her brother's suggestion to find adventure, greatness, and fortune. The tour leaves off where Margaret returns from the Titanic. As you might expect, the Molly Brown House is hosting a number of events tied to the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster (see sidebar below).

The Molly Brown House Museum preserves the home of the RMS Titanic's most famous survivor, The Unsinkable” Molly Brown. The directors of Historic Denver are doing this site a disservice by calling it a museum. The Molly Brown House Museum will celebrate the Denver icon's 150th birthday with a block party that pays homage to her philanthropy.

After Brown's death in 1932, her former Denver home became a boarding house for young men and women looking to start new lives in the American West—but by 1970, the home was scheduled for demolition. Owner description: This antique-filled Victorian house was the home of Molly Brown, not only a famous survivor of the Titanic, but so much more.

This popular myth, in turn, affected the preservation of Brown's Denver homes. The myth of "Molly" Brown has very Vacation little to do with the real life of Margaret Tobin Brown, although it speaks to her spirit. Tragically, the ship was advertised as unsinkable,” on its maiden voyage, and, due to hubris, it did not have enough life jackets and boats for all the people onboard.

Later, Carolyn Bancroft wrote a romantical story about the Unsinkable Molly Brown” that became very popular and was broadcast in the 1940s. Her house is beautifully restored and the tour helps enlighten you to just how cool "the unsinkable Molly Brown" really was.

Jamie Melissa Wilms, the director of education at the Molly Brown House, joined Chloe Veltman, host of CPR's weekly arts show, The Colorado Art Report,” in studio earlier this week to talk about the narratives that unfold through these photographs. The house has been restored with period furniture and the elegance that it had when the "unsinkable Molly Brown" was alive.

So, next time you're looking for something to do while you're in Denver, I would definitely urge you to go visit the Molly Brown House. Margaret became a founding member of the Denver Woman's Club, part of a network of clubs which advocated literacy, education, suffrage, and human rights in Colorado and throughout the United States.