History

History and Description of the Zang Mansion
Denver Colorado Historic Landmark Building

Office of American Zang Investment Council

The Zang Mansion was the Turn-of-the Century home of Adolph Zang, owner of the Zang Brewing Co in Denver Colorado. The Brewery was located along the North side of the Platte River occupying 31 acres with beautifully architected buildings and lovely landscaping.

Adolph's father, Phillip Zang, immigrated to the United States from Southern Germany. He had been trained as a cooper and brewer so easily found employment when he arrived in Louisville Ky. He worked hard, lived frugally and after several years was able to buy into partnership in the brewery where he worked. After marriage and the birth of Adolph, his only child, Phillip became interested in moving West. Adolph was sent to Europe for his education at the age of 12 and Phillip sold his interest in the brewery and moved to Denver.

Today, the Zang Brewing Company restaurant still stands, a landmark of the original site.

The first factory in the Denver area was the Rocky Mountain Brewery built in 1859. Phillip bought that establishment from John Good and renamed it the P.H. Zang Brewing Co. The Zang Brewery prospered against great odds. In 1863 it was totally destroyed by a neighborhood fire. After being rebuilt, Phillip's son, Adolph, who had returned from Germany at the age of 22, became a partner and full-time manager. In 1881 another fire severely damaged the building and, before that reconstruction was complete, a major flood on Cherry Creek did even further damage.

At its peak production in 1910 the Zang Brewery employed 175 men and had increased its production to 140,000 barrels a year. Zang was known for the quality of his product and was highly regarded for his ethical business practices. The Ocean Journey and Children's Museum occupy much of the former Zang Brewing site.

The brewery had a major impact on the agricultural activities of the state. It purchased 5 million pounds of barley annually and paid out $50,000 for horse feed. Its annual payroll was $150,000. Hundreds of draft horses were bred on the Zang,s 4,000 acre ranch where the Jefferson County Airport and City of Broomfield are now located. Barrels of beer were delivered by horse-drawn wagons to New Mexico, Wyoming and South Dakota.

After Phillip's death Adolph decided to diversify his holdings. He sold all interest in the brewery to an English Holding Company, but stayed on as the General Manager of the brewery. The profits from that sale were invested in 29 gold mines in the Cripple Creek area from which the family earned another fortune.

Adolph Zang's accomplishments went far beyond mining and brewing. He was instrumental in establishing the Capitol Life Insurance Company, and the American National Bank (originally the German Bank & Trust Co.) The Oxford Hotel, Cosmopolitan Hotel and "White City" (later renamed Lakeside Amusement Park) were built by the Zang Realty Company.

The Oxford Hotel is restored in "Turn of the Century (19th Century) Style" and is in operation today. It is in popular LODO, the Lower Downtown District.

The Zang Family's final home was built on "Quality Hill" just south of Capitol Hill. They purchased the lot at 709 Clarkson St. in 1902, put the foundation in and allowed it to settle for 2 years before starting construction. The home was completed in 1905 at a total cost of $108,000. The classic revival style home incorporates so many unique and superbly handcrafted art works that the building itself is literally a museum of fine art. Although only a few rooms of the mansion have original furniture, those rooms provide an intimate glimpse of the elegant Victorian life-style of one of Denver's leading business personalities.

The chandeliers, stained glass windows, beautifully hand carved fireplaces, hand-painted ceilings, English landscape motif tapestries and some original furniture are as they were the day the Zang family moved into their lovely new residence in 1905. Because the home has only had 3 owners during the last 95 years it has been carefully preserved in its original condition.

The Zang Mansion has been designated as a Historical Landmark by the City and County of Denver, the State of Colorado and is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.

Adolph Zang left a mark on Denver that is evident yet today. His house remains, reminding us of his elegant lifestyle in that by-gone era, and of his many endeavors in industry and commerce which contributed so importantly to Denver's successful growth.

Historic research done by Ruth Brunskill

WOODS IN THE MANSION:

Ladies Parlor :	African figured mahogany
Mens Parlor :	Curley Birch
Family Dining :	Cherry
Entry :	Golden Oak
Formal Dining :	English Brown Oak
Master Bedroom	Birdseye Maple
Billard Room	Tupella Gum Wood
3rd Floor Ballroom	Honduras Mahogany
Kitchen	Georgia Yellow Pine