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Free Traveling Guides » States » Colorado » Greater ColoradoHamill House Museum
The Hamill House Museum is the pride and joy of the all-inclusive residential interpretation of the Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District. This District is housed within the Historic Georgetown, Inc.'s context of the Rocky Mountain Mining West. The Hamill House Museum construes the cultural and social lifestyles, Victorian plants, architecture, furnishings, and landscaping of Georgetown in the 19th century. Initially, the Museum was a small cottage, established in the year 1867 by Joseph Watson. It has been named after William Arthur Hamill, Watson’s British brother-in-law, who renovated the building in 1879. Today, the Museum gives the public an opportunity to relive the graceful, well-designed lifestyle of Mr. Hamill, a silver mining tycoon. The main features of this beautifully restored Victorian home of Mr. Hamill and his family include gas lighting, central heating, a conservatory, bay windows, fabulous interior décor, and walnut woodwork. Other main buildings on the property are Mr. Hamill’s Office Building, the Carriage House, a large privy, and a laundry.
The Parlor was the formal living room of the House. The major attraction in this room is the multi-seat conversation chair placed right in the center. This chair is not original but it depicts the Renaissance Revival style of the 19th century. The square grand piano in the Parlor is very similar to the original one. Other features of this room include the beautiful wall paper that is flocked with camel’s hair and the original, red-silk velvet seating pieces. The wallpaper in the dining room has been beautifully restored. The dining room features the authentic Gothic Revival dining table and sideboard; flooring with alternating boards of maple and walnut and parquet borders made up of pieces of walnut, maple, and oak; and a beautiful fireplace of pink Lapanta marble.
The Museum Library was used as a family room where Hamill’s family used to gather, read, and play games in the evenings. This room’s wallpaper is original and looks like leather. The Library also has an original bookcase and several original books with Hamill’s name written in them. Another major attraction in the Hamill House is the restored Eastlake Leather Chaise. The wonderful greenhouse was built by Lord & Burnham. The cast iron painted fountain and fernery in the Conservatory is still functional and full of beautiful plants. The Hamill House Museum is a historic wonder, and is worth a visit at least once during your stay at Georgetown, Colorado.
- Address: 305 Argentine Street,
Georgetown, CO 80444
- Telephone: (303) 569-2840
- Hours: Summer: 10 AM - 4 PM daily; Sept. - Dec. 9: Sat & Sun, noon - 4 PM
- Website: www.historicgeorgetown.org
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