The Brown Palace Hotel was Andy Warhol’s Denver lodging before an exhibition opening in February 1977. His brief account makes the hotel a practical base for the visit, marked by a choice of the older building and a sharp distinction between the lobby’s appearance and the room’s comforts.

Arrival and Setting

On February 3, Warhol and his party reached Denver after a flight from New York. A blonde woman driving a Rolls-Royce, wearing a chauffeur’s cap, gave them a tour of the city and dropped them at the Brown Palace Hotel. The hotel combined an old section with a new annex; Warhol chose to stay in the old part.

The Hotel Interior

Warhol found the lobby better-looking than his room, but described the service as very fast. The room came with numerous amenities, including shower caps, a new television, soap, and a basket of fruit. The contrast is specific: the lobby made the stronger visual impression, while the room’s appeal lay in its well-provisioned convenience.

A Base Before the Opening

After arriving, Warhol called his nephew, Father Paul, and arranged to meet him the following day at the opening. At 6:30 that evening, Warhol was picked up for a preview for patrons. The diary places the hotel between the city tour and the exhibition engagements, documenting it as the setting for his arrival and preparations rather than as the site of the preview itself. At the preview, Fred Hughes became very drunk and argued with an elderly patron; Warhol tried to quiet him, and Hughes said he would require people to buy something before agreeing to future personal appearances.