Third Floor &
Servant's Bedroom
Narrated by Volunteer Museum Tour Guide Val Cooke
Today this Third floor space is used for events. Based on recollections from the family and others who lived here, the third floor was originally divided into several rooms. These were only accessible by the back servant’s stairs until 1908, when the Browns had the front grand staircase extended to the third floor.
Conceptual Third Floor Plan 1889-1908.]
Accounts say that this large area was two rooms with the right half closest to the street used as a nursery for the Brown children. The left, or back half of the space was living space for a nanny, other staff, or extended family.
It is undetermined if or when this room was made into one space as it was still divided into two lodging rooms when it became a museum. Historic Denver turned it into one large room for programming purposes right after taking ownership in 1970.
THE SERVANT'S ROOM
1900 Census. National Archives
If you continue down the hall you’ll see a small bedroom where as many as three maids would have slept. Based on archives and census data, we know that one of the Brown’s servants was a Mary Mulligan. Mary worked as a maid and seamstress for Mrs. Brown and also helped with other duties; family stories say that Margaret and Mary were as much friends as employer and maid. We also know that Mary traveled with the Browns on their around-the-world trip to India, China, and Japan, based on passport documents and a photograph of Margaret and Mary dressed in kimono.
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Further down the hall you’ll see a modern bathroom and kitchen to service events. You’ll also find the narrower servant’s staircase used by maids like Mary Mulligan. You may take these stairs to get back to the second floor. Watch your step!
