Old Homestead House Museum

About Us:

The Homestead House was once the most famous brothel in Cripple Creek. Owned and operated by Pearl DeVere, the opulent parlor bustled with activity and became known for its impeccable service, high-powered customers and its glamorous madams. At a time when $3 a day was considered a good wage for a miner, Pearl charged $250 a night, and got it. Today, the Homestead House is a museum that has been lovingly restored with velvet bedspreads and handmade furniture.

The Old Homestead was built in 1896 and was the most elegant brothel in Colorado's Cripple Creek District during its heyday. The house opened in 1958 as a museum and has been a favorite ever since with thousands of visitors from around the world every year. 

Built by the famous madam Pearl DeVere to service the desires of the rich and powerful men of the Cripple Creek mining district during Colorado’s Gold Rush, the Old Homestead offered the most beautiful women in the luxurious parlour house. Pearl built the house after the town was leveled by two fires, modeling it after the elite brothels of Paris and building it of brick so it could withstand another fire. 

And survive it has, for 119 years. The Old Homestead is the last origional building left standing of the many infamous pleasure palaces on Cripple Creek's Meyers' Avenue. 

Local residents of the Cripple Creek Historic District and surrounding area provide guided tours to help keep the story of the Old West alive. They share tales about what daily life was like for the girls who worked in the brothel and of the rich men who made Cripple Creek famous and were patrons of the Old Homestead in its hey day.

Pearl DeVere created the Old Homestead to be the most opulent house in town and many of the features original to the house are still present as are many antiques from the time period.