Experience Denver's Unsinkable Woman at Two Molly Brown Museums

Titanic survivor. Activist. Senate candidate. Philanthropist. Molly Brown was a lot of things in her day - including a Denver resident.

Today, Colorado visitors and residents can explore Molly Brown's famous Denver houses and learn all about the woman who came to be known as "unsinkable."

At the Brown's primary residence in Denver, 1340 Pennsylvania St., visitors can explore the house Molly and her mining mogul husband James Joseph "J.J." Brown purchased in 1894, shortly after striking it rich in Leadville's mines.

The pair met in 1886, shortly after Molly had moved from Hannibal, Missouri - her hometown - to join family members living in Leadville. Though she was 19 and he was 31, they experienced a whirlwind courtship and married within months. By 1887, they had a son and, 1889, a daughter.

The family lived in a modest home in Leadville until a mine J.J. Brown was managing struck copper and gold, a vein so rich it was billed as the "world's richest gold strike." The newly minted couple moved to Denver soon after, looking for a better climate, more social opportunities and, more simply, because it was where wealthy people were supposed to live.

The 7,600-square-foot house had electric lights, a telephone, indoor plumbing, heat and air, but it was considered just upper-middle-class for its day. The Browns didn't mind though - for many years, the house served as the staging ground for Molly Brown's many social and philanthropic activities, which included organizing annual gift and supply drives for Leadville miners, advocating for a reformed juvenile justice system, and running for senate - practically unheard of for a woman in those days - three separate times.

During this time, the Browns also acquired a summer house, located at what is now 2690 South Wadsworth in southwest Denver. Just 10 miles away from their home on Capitol Hill, the 400-acre estate - which Molly Brown dubbed the Avoca Lodge after a poem by Sir Thomas Moore - contained a two-story brick home, a fishing pond, terraced lawns, flower beds and a large barn for the family's horses. The lodge was often the site of elaborate parties and social gatherings organized by Molly Brown, and an expensive wooden floor on the barn's second story is thought to have been used for dancing - an activity notorious for lasting into the wee hours at parties hosted by the Browns.

Despite all the fun, Molly and J.J. Brown separated in 1909 after 23 years of marriage. Though they remained on friendly terms with each other, their lifestyles were just no longer compatible. Reserved J.J. Brown preferred solitude and was in ill health; outgoing Molly Brown was famous for her regular, elaborate social events and wanted to travel more often.

In the separation settlement, Molly Brown retained their Denver home and also received a cash settlement and a monthly allowance of $700. As for the summer home, J.J. Brown started selling it off - piece by piece. The Browns no longer owned any of the property by 1928.

Molly Brown went on to famously survive the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and became an advocate for survivors. While still on board the Carpathia, the ship that rescued the few passengers who escaped in life boats, she started taking up a collection for poorer passengers and compiled lists of survivors to be radioed to families at her own expense. She later stayed behind in New York for a few years to run a survivor's committee.

In later years, Molly Brown garnered attention for her work helping rebuild France and provide medical care before and after World War I - an act that earned her a Legion of Honor Award. She also continued philanthropic work throughout the U.S. - helping create the Mark Twain House museum in her former home of Hannibal and continuing her support for miners in Colorado.

All this time, Molly Brown kept the home in Denver. It wasn't until her death from a brain tumor at age 61 in 1932 that it was sold. Her children sold the home for a measly $5,000 - a low price but one that was necessary given the depression that gripped the nation at that time.

Today, both Brown homes are restored and open to the public. The houses offer tours, events and teas throughout the year. For more information on Molly Brown's Denver home, visit www.mollybrown.org. To learn more about the Brown's summer home, see www.mollybrownsummerhouse.com.