American Museum of Western Art

Can you imagine a collection of Western art so captivating, it once resided in a former brothel? Here at the American Museum of Western Art, housed in the historic Navarre Building in Denver, that’s exactly what you’ll find. The American Museum of Western Art isn’t just a museum; it’s a journey through the American West, captured on canvas. Originally a private collection amassed by Colorado entrepreneur Phillip Anschutz, this impressive display boasts over 300 paintings, drawings, and sculptures. The American Museum of Western Art showcases the evolution of Western art from the early 19th century to the present day. The collection is displayed chronologically, taking you from the Native American territories of the Old West to the settlements of the New Frontier and beyond. As the West expanded, so did the artistic styles depicting it, a transformation vividly illustrated throughout the museum’s three floors. The museum’s curator, Darlene Dueck, calls it the most important collection of Western art in the country, documenting the historical development of American art as it pertains to the West. Artists like George Catlin documented Native American tribal ceremonies. Iconic works like “The Last Shot” by William Ranney and “Long Jakes, The Rocky Mountain Man” by Charles Deas capture the drama of the era. The heroism of the Western frontier explodes in action-packed paintings by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. The museum’s second floor houses magnificent landscapes by Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran. On the third floor, you’ll discover paintings commissioned by the Santa Fe Railroad to entice passengers westward. These works, by members of the Taos Society of Artists, showcase the unique light and landscapes of the Southwest. The fourth floor explores thematic groupings, including the perils of early Western travel and the rise of still-life painting. The American Museum of Western Art even houses examples of New Deal Art, created during the Great Depression, and Abstract Expressionism. The paintings, many in ornate frames, are hung salon-style, floor to ceiling, recreating the Gilded Age display techniques of the Victorian era. The Navarre Building itself has a colorful past, beginning as a women’s school, then briefly a hotel before becoming the infamous Hotel Richelieu brothel, rumored to have secret tunnels connecting it to the Brown Palace Hotel. Eventually transformed into a respectable restaurant, the building was acquired by the Anschutz Corporation and, after extensive restoration, reopened in 2010 as the American Museum of Western Art. This museum offers a truly unique experience, combining a rich collection of Western art with the intriguing history of the Navarre Building. So, next time you’re in Denver, step into the American Museum of Western Art and experience the spirit of the West, one brushstroke at a time.