Historic Denver Tours
Historic Denver Tours
5
Full view
About
Historic Denver is a non-profit that encourages the preservation of Denver's historic buildings. We offer historic walking tours of Capitol Hill, Lower Downtown, Larimer Square, and Historic 16th Street. Tours are led by experts that use historic buildings to tell the story of Denver's past.
Denver, Colorado
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingSimilar Experiences
Historic Denver Tours
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravelers talk about
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
241 reviews
Excellent
220
Very good
15
Average
1
Poor
1
Terrible
4
Diana M
10 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
We did this tour of the Molly Brown house during covid-19 restrictions, and it was still well worth the time. Even though tour guides can't travel with your group, they're still available to answer questions and we heard some interesting stories from the volunteers that we wouldn't have heard with just the audio or printed tour guide. That being said, the audio tour or text guides you can access from your phone are also are great resources. They did have a printed guide available as well, but I would recommend looking at your confirmation email and following the links there so you have your audio or text guide ready on your phone on the day you go. The home is beautifully and thoughtfully restored to give you a sense of the fashions and sensibilities of the time period. What you learn about Molly Brown is even more interesting than the character that's portrayed in movies and plays.
Written July 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith H
1 contribution
May 2021
We were greeted enthusiastically by Kim, a volunteer with Historic Denver, and over the next 100 minutes or so we were treated to a personalized, engaging and informative tour of some of the original homes and mansions of Capitol Hill. Our group consisted of just two couples and Kim, although there was a third couple who had signed up but had to reschedule. This small group size worked well and allowed Kim to try to cater to our interests and questions.
Kim was extremely knowledgeable and charming and kept us interested throughout the tour. One highlight worth mentioning - Kim's semi-serious warnings about the hauntings of a couple of the old buildings. Whether or not one is inclined to entertain the concept of haunted houses, it was interesting and touching to hear about the tragedies that happened to the families that built and occupied those homes.
Another highlight was hearing about the socialites of early Denver, and their antics and rivalries. Kim really delivered the gossip (even if it was a century or so out of date).
More than I expected, the stories of individuals and families built up a real sense of insight into what it was like in this frontier boom town at its inception and through the early 20th century. It was also interesting to hear about the shifts in the urban planning and the development of the current historical preservation efforts.
This is a walking tour and when we weren't walking, we were standing on pavement, so it's important to plan accordingly - young children or those with limited mobility might want to find another activity. If you go during the summer you should definitely bring water as well as sunscreen. Make sure you're OK with being on your feet and walking a mile or two.
Kim was extremely knowledgeable and charming and kept us interested throughout the tour. One highlight worth mentioning - Kim's semi-serious warnings about the hauntings of a couple of the old buildings. Whether or not one is inclined to entertain the concept of haunted houses, it was interesting and touching to hear about the tragedies that happened to the families that built and occupied those homes.
Another highlight was hearing about the socialites of early Denver, and their antics and rivalries. Kim really delivered the gossip (even if it was a century or so out of date).
More than I expected, the stories of individuals and families built up a real sense of insight into what it was like in this frontier boom town at its inception and through the early 20th century. It was also interesting to hear about the shifts in the urban planning and the development of the current historical preservation efforts.
This is a walking tour and when we weren't walking, we were standing on pavement, so it's important to plan accordingly - young children or those with limited mobility might want to find another activity. If you go during the summer you should definitely bring water as well as sunscreen. Make sure you're OK with being on your feet and walking a mile or two.
Written May 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shurmfam
Summit, NJ19 contributions
Aug 2020
What a fun hour to spend in Denver! It was fun to learn more about" Unsinkable" Molly Brown...she was so much more than a woman who survived the Titanic sinking! The museum was clean and Covid friendly. The house was very well preserved too. The docents are kind and willing to make you visit more enjoyable and informative. Our visit exceeded our expectations!
Written August 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deborah N
Phoenix, AZ8 contributions
Jul 2021
Our Historic Denver tour guide was Robert, a gentleman who grew up in Denver and who has himself restored an 1880's home near downtown. His remarks covered early Denver history, early Denver characters, and early Denver architecture. He knows the buildings very well -- where the materials come from; the styles; the original uses of each etc. He drops in amusing anecdotes along the way about rivalries among the early settlers and early city builders, as well as natural and business events that shaped the downtown area. I especially liked that he included interesting historic women and acknowledged the original owners of the lands upon which Denver is built. I took the tour with my husband and a friend. We were on our feet about two hours because our tour stretched a little longer than planned, and it covered approximately four city blocks maximum in our walking, and Robert was careful to position us in the shade for our comfort, as it was summertime. Although not all the tours grant access to the higher floors of the clock tower, our tour was longer because we were able to go in and access it, which was quite a treat!
Written July 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kcombs1358
San Antonio, TX8 contributions
Apr 2021 • Solo
I truly enjoyed this look into historic downtown as well as the well preserved Molly Brown House. I did enjoy the level of technology that helped and supports the self directed tours. Wanda was a superb docent. Docent Pam truly needs to find another line of work. Found her very unfriendly, silent to the point of rudeness. In addition I was unable to go to the 3 floor because there were two traveling groups of people that were on the 3rd floor. I came from Texas to see Denver and specifically the Molly brown house. So wasn’t I a traveling group? But more importantly is this what is told to the locals that come to the house? Very disappointing.
Written April 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grandma Muir
Payson, AZ2 contributions
May 2022
Misleading advertising. They only have 15% original furnishings. Their business comes from the musical "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" but they deny truth to anything in the musical. They should remove the name "Molly" and replace it with Margaret so this isn't misleading.
Written May 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
621JanR
Cleves, OH18 contributions
Jul 2021
This was a wonderful surprise to me. An amazing insight into the many aspects of Margaret Brown’s remarkable life beyond surviving the sinking of the Titanic. A well organized process from the purchase of online tickets to actual touring. The docents are so pleasant but also amazingly well versed in the history and restoration of the home. You tour at your own pace with never a hint of being rushed with docents near by for any questions. I highly recommend a visit. A side note that the sub shop on the corner was excellent and their bourbon lemonade is worth a taste even if you aren’t hungry!
Written July 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave M
Watertown, SD39 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
We knew hardly anything about Margaret (Molly) Brown other than her survival of the Titanic voyage. The tour filled out her early life and humble beginnings as well as her husband's. It explained her empathy and drive to help the many widowed survivors, and her lifetime of philanthropy and service as well. Our guide was well-prepared and made good use of the tour time which went quickly. She also explained how the house was eventually run as a boarding house and was nearly destroyed like many other run-down historical homes, but was preserved with great effort and expense. We were very grateful for the work that went into allowing us to step back in time and experience a unique era and unimaginable lifestyle of a fascinating woman. Well worth the time!
Written July 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa J
Denver, CO8 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We love downtown Denver and have a lot of special ties to Larimer and some of the surrounding areas. We took the Larimer and clock tower tour to see the clock tower and it was even better than we expected. Our tour guide Janet was so knowledgeable and it was obvious that she was passionate about sharing her love for architecture and history. She shared a combination of fascinating architectural details as well as stories of the people that impacted the buildings and roads that we have today. We now have a new appreciation for Larimer square and loved being able to get a view of the tower and the views from the observation decks. It was a really wonderful tour which I highly recommend for anyone interested in the history of the city of Denver or interested in building architecture. We really enjoyed it.
Written May 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jack
8 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
We were looking for something to do in Denver the next day since we were unable to get into Rocky Mountain NP so we decided on this city tour. And we were so glad we did. Our guide Bill was a hoot, and also a wealth of information on downtown Denver. The tour was very informative and took us by many places we wouldn’t have seen on our own. Bill frequently interjected subtle ( sometimes not so subtle) humor into his narrative making it that much more enjoyable. Both my wife and I had a wonderful time and highly recommend this tour, hopefully you can get Bill!
Written September 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barbara S
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
where and when does this tour start. is tour available May 7 through May 14?
Written May 3, 2018
Historic Denver Walking Tours
Denver, Colorado
Barbara,
We offer 4 different tours on a weekly basis. There are many tours that will run from May 7th through 14th. Our full schedule can be found at our website. Each tour has a unique starting location, and when you purchase your tickets you will receive a confirmation email with the start location.
Schedule for May:
Sunday
10:00 am – Denver’s Main Street
1:45 pm – Capitol Hill
Monday
10:00 am – LoDo
Wednesday
10:45 am – Capitol Hill
Thursday
2 pm – Larimer Square
Friday
10:00 am – LoDo
10:45 am – Capitol Hill
Saturday
10:00 am – LoDo
10:45 am – Capitol Hill
2 pm – Larimer Square
Let us know if you have additional questions.
Thanks,
Alison
Written May 4, 2018
What is your schedule ; where do you go?
Written October 29, 2015
The walking tour we took was scheduled for 1 p.m. on a Friday. I don't think the tour is offered daily. You can go online and check their schedule.
It's a LoDo (Lower Downtown) tour of a lively, rejuvenated part of historic Denver. We started at the train station and ended there. Ours was a small group, and we got 90 minutes with a guide who knew the history of every repurposed building we walked by - what they housed back in the day and what they are today.
Good tour. Highly recommend.
Written October 29, 2015
Historic Denver Walking Tours walk through Lower Downtown of Denver, Colorado and other neighborhoods around the city. There are no outdoor patios involved with these specific Walking Tours.
Written August 4, 2015
Showing results 1-3 of 3
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.