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The Old Homestead House has been a museum since 1958 and is an important part of the Gold Rush History of the Cripple Creek/Victor Gold Mining District. Originally the most elegant brothel in the five-block Red Light District of Cripple Creek’s Myers Avenue in 1896, this house is the only one left.
Over the years, the property has had many different owners, who could have at any time, closed the museum, modified the interior or destroyed the building. It is extremely important for the future of this historical landmark that we preserve this unique part of Colorado’s history and keep open to the public for future generations to experience.
The current owners have been very good landlords recognizing the importance of the history and are willing to sell the building to The Old Homestead House Museum, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, for the total amount of $350,000. Your contribution would be a great help to reaching our goal and keeping the Old Homestead House Museum open.
Formed in 1999 for the preservation and operation of the museum, our non-profit group has been able to run the museum and take care of the maintenance of the building In 2009, with the support of so many like you who care about the museum we were able to raise the funds necessary to purchase the furnishings and artifacts of the house. Raising the funds in as little of three months, this couldn't have been done without the support of you our friends and neighbors. As caring local-area residents we are dedicated to continuing to do what is best for the museum and hope you will join us.
Thank you in advance for helping to preserve the history of Colorado’s early days. All donations are appreciated and the funds will be used to purchase the house from the current owners. If you have questions or would like more information, please feel free to call 719-689-2485 or 719-689-2754.
Bedroom furniture and clothing give a peek
at the girl’s home and work place.
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Original hand-painted wallpaper decorates
the walls
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The sturdy old building was erected in 1896 following the great fire and under the direction of such experts as Hazel Vernon, Pearl DeVere, Neil McClusky, Laura Evans and Lola Livingston. It achieved fame as has been accorded only to such noted European Brothels as the Trois Moulins in Paris. At the height of its fabulous career it enjoyed the finest trade, gave the grandest soirees and in general, achieved the greatest sophistication of any brothel in the Gold Camp. The Homestead’s girls, in their Parisian gowns and leghorn hats, were the scorched toast of the town and the only things they had in common with their sisters in the cribs was their profession.
The Old Homestead, last of the infamous pleasure palaces of Cripple Creek stands * alone in quiet dignity today on Myers Avenue in mute testimony to its raucious, glamorous past. The bright lights, the tinkling pianos, the course shouts of the pleasure- seeking miners are gone but the Homestead remains.
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