I recently toured the Byers-Evans House Museum. It is located adjacent to the Denver Art Museum, at 13th and Bannock. The large, Italianate style house was built in 1883 by Denver's first newspaper publisher, William Byers of the Rocky Mountain News.
The house was later sold to William Evans in 1889. He was the son of John Evans, the 2nd Territorial Governor of Colorado. His family and descendants would go on to occupy the house for over 90 years. I was fascinated by his daughter, Josephine's room which displayed her hand-carved leather works among other interesting items.
The house is quite large and lovely. The wallpaper that lines the mainroom downstairs and up to the second floor is unique and beautiful. It almost looks like wood sketches. You can tell the family was well educated as there are book cases in almost every room and artifacts from their various travels.
The house has been restored and focuses on an interpretive era from 1912-1924. According to my friendly tour guide (named Angela) over 90% of the furnishings inside belonged to the Evans family.
It was fun and intriguing to peer back in time...to catch a glimpse of what life was like as a wealthy family in early Denver.
(This is the view of the original entrance. The window to the left had a bullet hole in it...apparently someone wasn't too thrilled with the Evan's family at one time....I remember the tour guide saying something about voting issues....and the Tramway....anyway...)
Hours:
Mon-Sat
Tour times:
10:30am
11:30am
12:30pm
1:30pm
2:30pm
May-August there is an additional tour at
3:30pm
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