Marvelous isn’t it? This grand mansion before us is the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. It’s more than just a house it’s a piece of Denver’s living history.
Built in 1908 the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion started as a home for the Cheesman family. Walter Cheesman a Denver real estate tycoon sadly died before its completion. His daughter Gladys and her mother Alice moved in. Gladys even helped design this magnificent home.
The Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion wasn’t always a governor’s residence. After Alice Cheesman’s death Claude K Boettcher a prominent businessman bought it. He threw legendary parties. President Eisenhower even attended one in 1952. The Boettcher family later gifted this beautiful building to the state of Colorado.
It wasn’t an easy transition. Several state agencies initially refused the gift. The Boettcher Foundation even prepared to auction the contents and demolish the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion. Thankfully Governor Stephen McNichols accepted the gift in 1959. The Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion became the official residence for Colorado’s governors.
The architecture is stunning. Notice the red brick walls the white frosting and the elegant Ionic columns. The semi-circular sunroom added later overlooks Governor’s Park. Inside the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion you’ll find exquisite details. Think Waterford crystal chandeliers and 18th-century French chandeliers. There’s even a collection of 9th-century Tang Dynasty Funeral Horses in the library.
Many governors have lived here. However in recent years some have chosen to remain in their private homes. Regardless the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion remains a symbol of Colorado’s rich history and enduring elegance. It’s a place where the past meets the present a true Denver treasure.