Inside a Historic — and Maybe Haunted — Cheesman Mansion
For more than 120 years, the Thompson-Henry Mansion has stood proudly on the corner of 11th Avenue and Humboldt Street, overlooking Denver’s Cheesman Park. The grand Georgian Revival home, known for its massive columns and colorful stained glass, is one of the most striking landmarks in the Humboldt Street Historic District — and one of the most talked about when it comes to Denver’s haunted history.
According to Rocky Mountain PBS, which recently toured the mansion with current owners Bob and Kathleen Reginelli, the home’s original owner, millionaire Alonzo Thompson, was an avid believer in séances and spiritualism. Thompson was said to have regularly spoken with the dead — including his late father — and even ended his third marriage after “spiritual guidance” suggested a plot against him.
The Reginellis, who purchased the house in 1991, have embraced both the history and the hauntings. As they told Rocky Mountain PBS, they’ve experienced a few eerie moments themselves — from strange sounds on the upper floors to a mysterious hand on the shoulder in the basement ballroom. Their son, who grew up sleeping on the third floor, recalls hearing voices from a crawl space above his room.
Beyond its supernatural reputation, the 11,000-square-foot mansion is an architectural treasure, featuring intricate stained glass, hand-painted ceilings, marble fireplaces, and twin staircases — one for guests, one for staff. It’s also rumored that one of the home’s ornate door panels was once featured in a 1970s Playboy photoshoot.
Its haunted reputation is fueled not only by Thompson’s spiritualist past but also by its location. Cheesman Park and the surrounding neighborhood were built on what was once Denver’s first cemetery — and it’s believed that thousands of bodies remain buried beneath the area.
For the Reginellis, though, ghostly company isn’t a dealbreaker. They’re staying put, content to live among Denver’s history — and maybe its lingering spirits — in one of the city’s most fascinating and possibly haunted homes.
