The Molly Brown House is a well-known and historical house on Pennsylvania Street between 13th and 14th in Denver, Colorado. Like many houses in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, once known as “Millionaire’s Row,” this house is a relic of the Victorian era that has stood the test of time. And, like many Victorian houses, some of the former residents have stuck around after death to linger within the walls and annoy the living.
For those wondering, Molly Brown is most famous for surviving the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. She advocated for a juvenile court system and fought for women’s suffrage. Interestingly, she was actually never called Molly in her lifetime—her birth name was Margaret. I don’t know why she is called Molly now; it could have been Hollywood giving her the name Molly when producers started using her life story in TV shows and movies. Because, let’s be honest, Molly is a cool, sexy name, not Margaret. Eeewwwww.
The Molly Brown House Story
Isaac and Mary Large built the Molly Brown House in 1889 and sold it to the Browns in 1894. They lived there until 1902, when Molly and her husband J.J. felt their relationship was no longer working and decided to live apart. After Molly’s death in 1932, the house became a boarding house serving juvenile delinquents and was at one point subdivided into apartments. By the 1960s, the house had into disrepair and faced the risk of being demolished. In the 1970s, Historic Denver, Inc. helped get the house registered as a historic landmark. By 1971, the house opened as the museum it is today.
Some say that after the museum opened, new energy coming in and out of the house attracted some of its former residents back. Neither Molly nor J.J. died in the house, but many believe both haunt it. This could be explained by emotional imprint theory—the idea that because the Browns lived in this house during the best times of their lives, and had such a deep connection with it, their spirits remained. Which makes me wonder: how many ghost children haunt Disneyland?
Lingering Ghosts
Visitors report smelling cherry tobacco smoke, believed to be J.J. still smoking, as well as rose perfume, Molly’s favorite. Other guests have seen an apparition of a Victorian woman in the dining room that will sometimes rearrange furniture. Some investigators think this might be Molly’s mother, Johanna Tobin, but there’s not a lot of evidence. A man in Victorian attire is sometimes seen on the stairs. He could be J.J. or possibly the echo of a servant still watching over the house. Some guests have claimed to see him in a mirror. Doors close on their own, and visitors feel cold spots throughout the house.
My favorite entity in the house, and the only ghost the museum is willing to admit exists, is the ghost cat. Adorable. They even have a t-shirt in the gift shop with a picture of a cat and the words, “I saw the Molly Brown House Ghost Cat.” No one knows when the cat lived there or who owned it. Visitors have felt a cat rub against their legs only to look down and see nothing. People sometimes see a small shadow dart across the room and even hear faint meowing. Again, adorable. I once lived in Denver and did ghost tours in the neighborhood. On at least seven occasions, while talking to guests about the Molly Brown House, someone would mention having seen the cat.
Ghost Hunt On Your Own
As for my own experience, I’ve done the Molly Brown House tour. They offer a guided tour that goes into detail about Molly’s life and legacy. There is also a self-guided tour, which I chose because I wanted to do some ghost hunting. From what I’ve heard, the workers don’t really appreciate it when someone starts asking about hauntings. They work there because they care about Molly and her impact, not my weird hobby. I brought my trusty EMF detector since it’s one of the quieter tools.
Ghost That Wants To Be Left Alone
I didn’t notice any unusual activity throughout most of the house. Until I went to the third floor, which used to be the servants’ quarters. I was alone up there and turned on my EMF. After standing still for 10 to 15 seconds the EMF spiked to orange and red, then back down to green. I took a few steps, and it spiked again to orange and red for another 10 seconds, then back to green. Again, I took a few steps and the same anomaly occurred. Orange and red for a sustained period, then back to green.
I walked around the third floor for several minutes, doing this almost as if I was following something that was trying to avoid me. How’s that for some role reversal? I chased a ghost trying to get away from me, not the other way around. It’s like eating alligator—who’s the apex predator now? But I digress. I’ve heard that the third floor has a lot of activity, so I wasn’t too surprised.
Molly And Her Family Are Nice Ghosts
It seems the ghosts and spirits in the Molly Brown House are not malevolent or angry about their past lives. Rather, they are echoes and residual energy, not quite ready to let go of a special time in a special place. I would recommend checking out this paranormal hotspot. Not only for ghost hunting but because it’s a fun time capsule. Everything in the house is a relic from the Victorian era.
If you do decide to go, visiting in October will be more inviting to us ghost hunters. Like I said, mentioning hauntings can annoy the workers. However, in recent years, they have embraced and capitalized on the attention the hauntings have brought, even holding Ouija board sessions—unsurprisingly on the third floor—throughout spooky season. There are haunted tours you can go on that include The Molly Brown House. The museum claims that Victorians used Ouija boards as a pastime, but come on, the house is haunted—just admit it.
Happy Hunting.
Thanks for reading and check out The Witches Wardrobe to spookify your style. Your support goes to fund the adventures of The Forgotten Grimoire.