The Molly Brown House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
303.832.4092
Fax: 303.832.2340

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1530 Logan Street

Architecture:  French Gothic Revival

Architect:  Leon Coquard; Aaron Gove and Thomas F. Walsh

Built:  1902-1912

Cost:  $500,000

In 1880, eighteen years after Denver's first Catholic parish was established, the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Association was formed.  The Association chose Detroit architect Leon Coquard, who began work on the plans in 1900.  Denver architects Aaron Gove and Thomas F. Walsh completed the architectural work after Coquard became ill.  Eight lots at the corner of Colfax and Logan were donated for the building by four leading Catholic businessmen -- J.J. Brown, John F. Campion, J.K. Mullen, and Dennis Sheedy.  Margaret Brown raised money for the new church.  Unfortunately, most of this money was lost when the Association made poor investments.  The groundbreaking ceremony occurred in 1902, but the first cornerstone could not be laid until 1906.  Construction of the Cathedral was completed in 1912.

Denver's high society attended the 11:00 am Sunday Mass.  Margaret and J.J. Brown rented pew 6 for 25 cents per adult and 10 cents per child.  Each Sunday morning, worshipers could see Margaret walk up the center aisle with her huge walking staff decorated with flowers and ribbons.

In 1979 Pope John Paul II named the cathedral a minor basilica -- only one of twenty-nine in this country.  The term is used only for very important churches outside of Rome whose history, architecture, activities, and community service are central to the functioning of the Catholic Church.  The cathedral was also honored when Pope John Paul II said Mass there in 1993.

This grand cathedral may be Denver's best example of French Gothic Revival architecture.  It is made of Mississippian-age Indiana limestone, the same stone used in Saint John's Episcopal Cathedral less than one mile away.  A total of seventy-five stained-glass windows light the interior of the church.  Each unique window was made at the Royal Bavarian Art Institute of Germany.  The interior stonework is very elaborate, particularly the carved altars of imported Italian Carrara marble.  Colorado Yule marble makes up the vestibules, pillar bases, balustrades, baseboards, and confessionals.