The Phipps Mansion
Encyclopedia
The Phipps Mansion is a historical mansion located in Denver, Colorado, specifically in the southeast Belcaro, Denver
neighborhood at the corner of Madison Street and Belcaro Drive. Built between 1931 and 1933, the 33000 square feet (3,065.8 m²) Georgian style Phipps Mansion consists of more than seventy rooms, two of which were imported from England.
The facility is decorated in the Chippendale and Queen Anne styles and features European, American, and Asian art.
Lawrence Cowle Phipps commissioned the Mansion with his third wife, Margaret Rogers (daughter of Denver Mayor Judge Rogers), hoping to provide jobs during the Great Depression
. The mansion itself is located on a larger estate entitled "Phipps Memorial Conference Center". The center is situated on 5 acres of landscaped grounds, and includes The Phipps Mansion, The Phipps Tennis Pavilion, and Phipps Catering Services.
and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
. Her father was the mayor of Denver from 1891 to 1893.
designed the mansion, which was later built by Platt Rogers Jr., brother of Mrs. Phipps. Mrs. Phipps gave the tennis pavilion to the University of Denver
in 1960 and, with the consent of her two sons, Gerald and Allen, gave the University of Denver
the mansion in 1964. The Phipps home has been designated by the University as the "Margaret Rogers Phipps House"; the estate is known as the Lawrence C. Phipps Memorial Conference Center. Colleagues of Fisher and Fisher called the mansion "a Colorado
masterpiece." Annette Hoyt Flanders designed the artistic landscaping. While it was built largely from local products, the house contains antiques, art work, tapestries, sculpture and rare books from around the world.
Over the past four decades, the mansion has been a popular venue for weddings, various corporate and philanthropic events, as well as receptions and other celebrations. World leaders for the Summit of the Eight conference met at the mansion in 1997.
The Tennis Pavilion is also purported to be the very first indoor tennis facility built west of the Mississippi River.
Dining Room
This Georgian style room is more than 250 years old. The paneling is knotty pine, which was sent from Colonial America to England
where it was made into this dignified paneled room, then later installed in the mansion. There is a Waterford
chandelier, which hangs from the center of the ceiling and compliments the original dining room chairs. The dining room chairs were carved from the beams of a house built in Santo Domingo
in 1509. There is also a painting on the north wall by Hudson River Valley artist Albert Bierstadt
.
Billiard Room
The oak walls in this room are from England
and are almost 400 years old. There are hidden panels in this Jacobean room, which were used for storing billiard balls and cues. The ceiling depicts an illustration of the War of Roses.
Living Room
This 1000 square feet (92.9 m²) room has Austrian oak paneling and a carving of a Bald Eagle
over the fireplace. The chandeliers are Sheffield Sterling, and the carving over the hall door portrays the Phipps' family crest.
Library
There is a limewood carving over the fireplace, in the spirit of Gringling Gibbons, and was commissioned by the Phipps family. Many first editions and volumes from all over the world
line the walls of this library.
Staircase
The grand staircase features a banister created by Burkhardt Steel of Denver. Andrew Carnegie
presented the massive Swiss grandfather clock, located at the top of the staircase, to Lawrence Cowle Phipps as a gift.
Foyer
The foyer contains the original organ that was placed in the alcove. The device that ran the organ was located in a room directly underneath the foyer and the pipes ran upward behind the tapestries.
and his husband, Scott Miller. They plan to renovate the kitchen and perform much-needed maintenance, while still maintaining some of the classic elements of the mansion. They also hope to embellish the garden, and keep the landscaping luxurious.
Proceeds from the sale of the Phipps Mansion, which is valued at more than $9 million, will be added to an existing Phipps endowment.
Belcaro, Denver
Belcaro is a neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. According to the Piton Foundation, in 2007, the population of the neighborhood was 4,394, and there were 2,343 housing units...
neighborhood at the corner of Madison Street and Belcaro Drive. Built between 1931 and 1933, the 33000 square feet (3,065.8 m²) Georgian style Phipps Mansion consists of more than seventy rooms, two of which were imported from England.
The facility is decorated in the Chippendale and Queen Anne styles and features European, American, and Asian art.
Lawrence Cowle Phipps commissioned the Mansion with his third wife, Margaret Rogers (daughter of Denver Mayor Judge Rogers), hoping to provide jobs during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. The mansion itself is located on a larger estate entitled "Phipps Memorial Conference Center". The center is situated on 5 acres of landscaped grounds, and includes The Phipps Mansion, The Phipps Tennis Pavilion, and Phipps Catering Services.
Mr. and Mrs. Phipps
Mr. Phipps moved to Colorado in 1901 looking to raise a family and give back to the community with his wealth. Mrs. Phipps was very active with the University of DenverUniversity of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a municipal natural history and science museum in Denver, Colorado. It is a resource for informal science education in the Rocky Mountain region. A variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities help museum visitors learn about the natural history of...
. Her father was the mayor of Denver from 1891 to 1893.
History
The elegant Georgian mansion, spacious Tudor and Mediterranean style tennis pavilion with historically designed gardens and grounds combine to form what many believe is the region's premier estate. Architects Fisher & FisherFisher & Fisher
Fisher & Fisher was an architectural firm in Colorado named for partners William Ellsworth Fisher and Arthur Addison Fisher . The firm was founded in 1892 by William Ellsworth Fisher as William Fisher, Architect...
designed the mansion, which was later built by Platt Rogers Jr., brother of Mrs. Phipps. Mrs. Phipps gave the tennis pavilion to the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
in 1960 and, with the consent of her two sons, Gerald and Allen, gave the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
the mansion in 1964. The Phipps home has been designated by the University as the "Margaret Rogers Phipps House"; the estate is known as the Lawrence C. Phipps Memorial Conference Center. Colleagues of Fisher and Fisher called the mansion "a Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
masterpiece." Annette Hoyt Flanders designed the artistic landscaping. While it was built largely from local products, the house contains antiques, art work, tapestries, sculpture and rare books from around the world.
Over the past four decades, the mansion has been a popular venue for weddings, various corporate and philanthropic events, as well as receptions and other celebrations. World leaders for the Summit of the Eight conference met at the mansion in 1997.
The Tennis Pavilion is also purported to be the very first indoor tennis facility built west of the Mississippi River.
Room Descriptions
The mansion has 33123 square feet (3,077.2 m²) of floor space, with fourteen rooms on the first floor and seven bedrooms with dressing rooms, suites and baths and a sitting room on the second floor.Dining Room
This Georgian style room is more than 250 years old. The paneling is knotty pine, which was sent from Colonial America to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where it was made into this dignified paneled room, then later installed in the mansion. There is a Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
chandelier, which hangs from the center of the ceiling and compliments the original dining room chairs. The dining room chairs were carved from the beams of a house built in Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
in 1509. There is also a painting on the north wall by Hudson River Valley artist Albert Bierstadt
Albert Bierstadt
Albert Bierstadt was a German-American painter best known for his lavish, sweeping landscapes of the American West. In obtaining the subject matter for these works, Bierstadt joined several journeys of the Westward Expansion...
.
Billiard Room
The oak walls in this room are from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and are almost 400 years old. There are hidden panels in this Jacobean room, which were used for storing billiard balls and cues. The ceiling depicts an illustration of the War of Roses.
Living Room
This 1000 square feet (92.9 m²) room has Austrian oak paneling and a carving of a Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
over the fireplace. The chandeliers are Sheffield Sterling, and the carving over the hall door portrays the Phipps' family crest.
Library
There is a limewood carving over the fireplace, in the spirit of Gringling Gibbons, and was commissioned by the Phipps family. Many first editions and volumes from all over the world
line the walls of this library.
Staircase
The grand staircase features a banister created by Burkhardt Steel of Denver. Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
presented the massive Swiss grandfather clock, located at the top of the staircase, to Lawrence Cowle Phipps as a gift.
Foyer
The foyer contains the original organ that was placed in the alcove. The device that ran the organ was located in a room directly underneath the foyer and the pipes ran upward behind the tapestries.
Recent News
As of April 2010, the mansion sold to Denver philanthropist Tim GillTim Gill
Tim Gill is an American computer software entrepreneur and LGBT rights activist.- Background :Gill was born in Hobart, Indiana...
and his husband, Scott Miller. They plan to renovate the kitchen and perform much-needed maintenance, while still maintaining some of the classic elements of the mansion. They also hope to embellish the garden, and keep the landscaping luxurious.
Proceeds from the sale of the Phipps Mansion, which is valued at more than $9 million, will be added to an existing Phipps endowment.
See also
- Lawrence Cowle Phipps
- University of DenverUniversity of DenverThe University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
- Mansions
- Georgian ArchitectureGeorgian architectureGeorgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
- Andrew CarnegieAndrew CarnegieAndrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
- War of Roses
- Tim GillTim GillTim Gill is an American computer software entrepreneur and LGBT rights activist.- Background :Gill was born in Hobart, Indiana...
- Belcaro, DenverBelcaro, DenverBelcaro is a neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. According to the Piton Foundation, in 2007, the population of the neighborhood was 4,394, and there were 2,343 housing units...