“Dear one,” what a fitting name for Belcaro Mansion. It echoes the love and vision that brought this magnificent estate to life. Built in the Belcaro neighborhood, this Denver landmark stands as a testament to an era of elegance and philanthropy.
Lawrence Cowle Phipps, a man who made his fortune in steel, arrived in Denver with a desire to give back. He commissioned the Belcaro Mansion. He wanted to provide jobs during the Great Depression. Construction took place between 1931 and 1933.
Phipps and his third wife, Margaret Rogers, called it Belcaro. That is Italian for “dear one.” The neighborhood itself bears the name Belcaro. It was developed by Phipps’ Belcaro Realty and Investment Company.
Imagine the grand parties and gatherings within those walls. The Belcaro Mansion boasts over seventy rooms. Two of these rooms were even imported from England. The interior design showcases Chippendale and Queen Anne styles. European, American, and Asian art adorns the rooms.
The mansion covers an impressive 33,000 square feet. It exemplifies Georgian architecture. Fisher & Fisher designed the mansion. Platt Rogers Jr., Margaret’s brother, built it. Colleagues hailed it as a Colorado masterpiece.
Step inside the dining room. It is more than 250 years old. Knotty pine paneling lines the walls. It was sent from Colonial America to England. There, it was crafted into the dignified paneled room. Later, it was installed here in the Belcaro Mansion. The Waterford chandelier and the dining room chairs complement the room’s elegance. The chairs were carved from beams of a house built in Santo Domingo in 1509.
Next, wander into the billiard room. The oak walls are almost 400 years old. Hidden panels exist within this Jacobean room. They once stored billiard balls and cues. The ceiling depicts an illustration of the War of the Roses.
The living room spans 1,000 square feet. Austrian oak paneling graces the walls. A carving of a bald eagle sits above the fireplace. Sheffield Sterling chandeliers illuminate the space. The Phipps family crest is carved over the hall door.
The library features a limewood carving over the fireplace. It is in the style of Grinling Gibbons. The Phipps family commissioned it. First editions and volumes from around the world line the walls.
Notice the grand staircase. Burkhardt Steel of Denver created the banister. Andrew Carnegie gifted the Swiss grandfather clock to Lawrence Cowle Phipps. It stands at the top of the staircase.
The foyer contains the original organ. It was placed in the alcove. The device that ran the organ was located in a room underneath. The pipes ran upward behind the tapestries.
The Tennis Pavilion is also significant. It was the first indoor tennis facility built west of the Mississippi River. Margaret Rogers-Phipps, a tennis enthusiast, donated it to the University of Denver in 1960.
In 1964, Margaret and her sons, Gerald and Allen, gave the Belcaro Mansion to the University of Denver. It became the Lawrence C. Phipps Memorial Conference Center. For decades, it hosted weddings, corporate events, and world leaders.
In 2010, the Belcaro Mansion returned to private use. Denver philanthropist Tim Gill and his husband Scott Miller purchased it. The proceeds benefited a Phipps endowment at the University of Denver.
Today, the Belcaro Mansion remains a landmark. It stands as a reminder of Lawrence and Margaret Phipps’ generosity. It’s a symbol of Denver’s rich history and architectural beauty.