Henry Cordes Brown
Henry Cordes Brown was a man of imagination and courage. Brown quickly became one of the most prominent men in Colorado in the late-1800s and has long been identified with the initial development of Denver.
Brown was born in 1820 in Belmont County, OH. He was orphaned at age seven and went through schooling and an apprenticeship until age 16. He then moved to Virginia, where he learned to be a carpenter. Soon after, Brown met a young man who inspired him to travel West, where he continued to work as an architect, builder, and contract carpenter.
In 1859, Brown journeyed to Colorado by ox team with his wife, son, and all of their belongings. He arrived in Denver on July 10, 1860, and resumed his trade as an architect, carpenter, and builder. In 1863, he claimed 160 acres, known as “Brown’s Addition” in Denver. Brown donated 10 acres to the state, part of which is the current site of the State Capitol building. He built The Brown Palace Hotel, one of Colorado’s finest hotels, on this land from 1889-92. Brown made his residence on 12th Avenue and Sherman Street and the Tabor Mansion, both premier residences at the time.
In 1872, Brown became the owner of the Denver Daily Tribune and served in that role for three years. He was a charter member of the Denver Board of Trade, the first business organization in the city, which later became the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. The Board of Trade brought the Denver Pacific Railroad to Denver through Cheyenne, WY. Brown co-established the Bank of Denver, established the Denver City Library, and was generous to many philanthropic and charitable endeavors.
Brown was born in 1820 in Belmont County, OH. He was orphaned at age seven and went through schooling and an apprenticeship until age 16. He then moved to Virginia, where he learned to be a carpenter. Soon after, Brown met a young man who inspired him to travel West, where he continued to work as an architect, builder, and contract carpenter.
In 1859, Brown journeyed to Colorado by ox team with his wife, son, and all of their belongings. He arrived in Denver on July 10, 1860, and resumed his trade as an architect, carpenter, and builder. In 1863, he claimed 160 acres, known as “Brown’s Addition” in Denver. Brown donated 10 acres to the state, part of which is the current site of the State Capitol building. He built The Brown Palace Hotel, one of Colorado’s finest hotels, on this land from 1889-92. Brown made his residence on 12th Avenue and Sherman Street and the Tabor Mansion, both premier residences at the time.
In 1872, Brown became the owner of the Denver Daily Tribune and served in that role for three years. He was a charter member of the Denver Board of Trade, the first business organization in the city, which later became the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. The Board of Trade brought the Denver Pacific Railroad to Denver through Cheyenne, WY. Brown co-established the Bank of Denver, established the Denver City Library, and was generous to many philanthropic and charitable endeavors.