Guided tours of the “Queen City of the Plains’” most iconic landmarks, including the Molly Brown House Museum, the Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower and historical neighborhoods like Capitol Hill and Potter Highlands, offer an immersive way to explore Colorado history — and rank among the top things to do in Denver.
Molly Brown House Museum
Stepping through the doors of the Molly Brown House Museum, the skyscrapers and city streets of modern city life fades into the stately opulence of the Colorado Gold Rush. Surrounded by stones, silks and crown molding that defined the Gilded Age, visitors to this historic home find themselves in the private world of Denver’s most legendary inhabitant: Margaret “Molly” Brown.
Brown’s extraordinary journey took her from a modest Missouri cottage to the upper echelons of Denver society as a socialite, philanthropist and outspoken Titanic survivor. Her life was anchored in a Capitol Hill manor literally crafted from the Colorado landscape. Built in 1889 by architect William Lang, the house features a stalwart exterior of gray Castle Rock rhyolite, elegantly accented by red Manitou sandstone.
One-hour guided and self-guided tours let you wander the meticulously restored rooms of this ornate Victorian mansion, including her husband J.J. Brown’s private study, complete with historical Leadville maps of where he struck it rich at the Little Jonny Mine. As you grasp the original polished wooden banisters and climb the home’s groaning stairs, the house reveals a complex portrait of a woman who leveraged her fame and fortune to fight for the rights of displaced miners, the Titanic’s immigrant survivors and the global suffragist movement.
Interactive exhibits and family-friendly scavenger hunts reanimate her legacy, alongside the home’s later chapters as a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ men and a boarding house for girls. Afterward, stop in the old carriage house for one-of-a-kind Denver souvenirs.
Where to get tickets: Purchase tickets in advance online or in person at the museum’s carriage house, located behind the home’s stone lion-guarded entrance. Read the museum visitation page for more information, including prices and other FAQs.
Hours: The Molly Brown House Museum is open Tuesday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., with extended hours until 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Final entry is one hour before the museum closes. For summer and holiday hours, check the website.
Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower
The Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower is a slice of Denver history you can climb. Rising 375 feet, this 1912 blond brick and terracotta-accented tower was the city’s first skyscraper and once the tallest building between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Coast. Built as part of the original Daniels and Fisher department store, the tower welcomed up to 1,500 visitors a day at its peak. Now, it’s a quieter, more intimate experience — often just you and a handful of others soaking in Denver’s skyline.
A 30-minute self-guided tour leads you to the upper reaches of the 17th through 21st floors, far above the urban hum of Denver’s 16th Street Mall and Larimer Square. Stepping onto the narrow outdoor balconies, the city shrinks into a miniature map of markers, while the jagged silhouette of the Rocky Mountains dominates the western skyline. The tour includes a digital field guide that allows visitors to identify and learn about notable buildings.
The massive interior clock and the balcony’s sweeping vistas serve as Denver’s premier selfie backdrops — especially during sunset tours, when the horizon transforms into a canvas of wispy pinks and oranges.
Where to get tickets: Purchase tickets at the tower on the 17th floor or on Historic Denver’s website. Or if you'd like a guided tour, join the Larimer Square walking tour, which ends at the top of the tower
Hours: Visit the booking website for upcoming days and times.
Historic Denver Neighborhood Walking Tours
To truly know Denver, you have to leave the car behind. So lace up a pair of tennis shoes, grab a water bottle and prepare to see the city from a whole new perspective. Historic Denver’s neighborhood walking tours aren't just a recitation of dates; they’re deep dives into the local lore and architectural nuances, bringing eyebrow-raising factoids and interesting characters to life with every step.
Step into the city’s industrial heart in LoDo, where the red-brick bones of “Warehouse Row” stand as a testament to its rail-hub roots. Farther south, learn about the evolution of Larimer Square — the city’s oldest block — from a commercial center for miners to downtown’s first historic district, where food lovers flock and pedestrians enjoy car-free window shopping.
Wander the grand, elm-shaded avenues of Capitol Hill near the Molly Brown House Museum or take a special tour that tells the neighborhood's queer history. For architecture lovers, explore the stately prestige of Quality Hill and the Governor’s Mansion or admire the highest concentration of Queen Anne Victorians in the Baker neighborhood.
Discover the city’s residential roots in Curtis Park, Denver’s first streetcar suburb, or head to the west side’s Potter Highlands, where historical architecture now shares the sidewalk with the city’s trendiest restaurants. For a darker edge, the shaded paths of Cheesman Park — built atop the city’s oldest cemetery — offer chilling tales and goosebumps that linger even on a sunny Colorado day.
Where to get tickets: Visit Historic Denver’s Walking Tour website to view and book tours, including available days and times, as well as seasonal holiday walking tours.
Historic Denver’s Seasonal Events
Historic Denver’s calendar is packed with seasonal events that add fresh memories to annual celebrations. At the Molly Brown House, private and public holiday teas — tailored for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and the National Western Stock Show — offer a valid excuse to dress up, point out your pinky and revel in another era. Come autumn, Victorian Horrors transforms the Molly Brown House Museum into a theater in the round, where actors bring famous and forgotten spooky stories to life by candlelight
For a more adult evening, attend after-hours events such as Cocktails in Cool Places or 1340 Penn, where exclusive access to historical Denver buildings is paired with artisanal craft drinks and unexpected historical flourishes like Victorian burlesque.
How to find upcoming events: Visit Historic Denver’s events page to purchase tickets for upcoming programs and special events.
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Frequently asked questions about visiting the Molly Brown House Museum
Learn more about the Brown family
