Governor’s Mansion
South of the state capitol, the Governor’s Mansion once faced a date with a wrecking ball. Back in 1907, tycoon Walter Cheesman commissioned an extravagant estate on Capitol Hill in Denver, a testament to Gilded Age ambition. But he died before the bricklaying, and so his wife and daughter finished the job. In the 20s, the property passed to the Boettcher family — and they filled it with treasures, like a crystal chandelier that hung in the White House the year of Colorado statehood. But by the late 50s, this elegant mansion was in limbo and scheduled for demolition. Then Governor Stephen McNichols claimed it for Colorado — and his family moved in. I’m former First Lady of Colorado Jeannie Ritter, and my family also lived in the Governor’s Residence from 2007 to 2011. You can see “Colorado’s House" too — regularly open for tours of this stately showcase of our shared heritage.
About Colorado Postcards
Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. See more postcards.
