Highlands Ranch Mansion Virtual Tour and History Presentation on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 1:00 PM MT

Highlands Ranch Mansion Virtual Tour and History Presentatio presented by Kristy Thomas, Docent

Join us for a free virtual architectural tour of the Highlands Ranch Mansion led by Docent Kristy Thomas with a rich regional narrative to learn the estate’s full history from 1884 homestead to present day. The property was once part of a vast ranching empire, later becoming a cultural and social hub for Denver’s elite, and now preserved as part of the Highlands Ranch Historic Park. The mansion’s origins trace back to 1884 when Samuel Allen Long filed for a homestead in northern Douglas County and named it Rotherwood after his boyhood farm. For nearly a century, it passed through notable owners including John W. Springer, Col. William Hughes, Waite Phillips, Frank E. Kistler, and Lawrence Phipps Jr.

Born and raised in Evergreen, CO, Kristy grew up camping with her family every summer to explore old mining sites and historic places throughout the west. She developed a lasting interest in the gold and silver mining history of the western U.S.

Her varied career included work on the C Lazy U Ranch and Resort, at the Brown Palace Hotel managing Afternoon Tea where she worked with the hotel historian informing guests about the hotel’s history. After retiring, Kristy became a historic interpreter on the 1860s farm at the Littleton History Museum. At the same time, she became a docent at the Highlands Ranch Mansion.

Guests are welcome at FhGS activities. There is ample parking and an accessible entrance at Applewood Valley United Methodist Church, 2035 Ellis St., Golden, CO, 80401.

To attend or receive the ZOOM link, register at https://foothillsgenealogy.org where individual and family memberships are available and donations are welcome