Old Images of Denver and The West

Photo from the Denver Public Library Western History Collection

The Albert L Welch Mansion---Colfax & Grant
Albert Brooks started off in the Denver Business scene with a dry goods store, but he soon realized there was a bit more opportunity in the real estate and investment business. The career change paid off, by 1890 his holdings in the Denver area were worth over $1,000,000.00.
Unfortunately, the Welch family home on the corner of Colfax and Grant was torn down in 1913 to make way for the Argonaut Hotel.

Photo from the Denver Public Library Western History Collection

The former residence of Lawrence C. Phipps at Colfax & Marion in Denver.
This sprawling 26 room mansion was built for Captain William Decatur Bethel in 1886. When Phipps retired from the Carnegie Steel Corporation in 1901 and moved his family to Denver, he rented the home from Capt. Bethel. Phipps purchased the property a few years later.
The Phipps family lived here until the 1930's, when they built another mansion in the Belcaro neighborhood.

Photo from the Denver Public Library Western History Collection

 The Colorado State Capitol Building in 1913, with trolley cars.

Photo from the Denver Public Library Western History Collection

Aerial View of Civic Center Park
You just have to love these old aerial shots of Denver! This one was taken in the 1930's.