We won't go in today, but the Botanic Gardens opened in 1951. It's worth a visit, and it is open daily from 9 am.

This pavilion was built in 1910 to look like a Greek temple. Architects Marean & Norton, part of the City Beautiful Movement.

Cass Mansion / I Am Sanctuary

Built 1902–04 by Adolph J. Zang — one of Denver's ten millionaires

Built 1899 for Dr. Oscar Cass, an early banker. But the compelling chapter belongs to Rabbi William Friedman.

Smelting to oil to aviation. One house, three chapters of Denver's economic history.

Three names, three families. The Cheesman-Evans-Boettcher Mansion.

The Croke-Patterson Mansion, currently the Patterson Inn. French Chateauesque, red sandstone. And haunted by 12 different spirits.

Two matching mansions joined by a wing. Built in 1889 by friends — David Dodge and Joseph Gilluly, treasurer of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Built twins next door to each other.

Dunning-Benedict House 1889. William Lang — Denver's defining architect of this era — designs this Romanesque Revival. The owner who matters: Mitchell Benedict.

Gourmet breakfast in a 130-year-old mansion. Not the worst way to experience Denver history.

Last mansion. The most important one. Because Margaret Brown doesn't fit the mold of anyone else we've seen today.

Completed 1901. Mitchell Benedict — whose house we stopped at — helped design it. Almost entirely Colorado materials: Yule marble, Colorado granite, Beulah Rose Onyx. That was intentional. The state wanted a building that said: we are not a colonial outpost. We are here. We are permanent.