Colorado’s ‘Wild West’ past hides many secrets, including the underground tunnels beneath Denver’s sidewalks. These tunnels, which interlinked numerous buildings, served various purposes—some legitimate, others more clandestine.
One of the most notorious tunnels connected The Navarre building to the iconic Brown Palace Hotel. In 1889, two gamblers acquired The Brinker Collegiate Institute and transformed it into a gentleman’s club known as Hotel Richelieu. However, after losing it in a card game six months later, the new owners rebranded it as The Navarre.
The Navarre played multiple roles in Denver’s community. By 1892, it was known for public dining and private gambling on its lower floors, with more illicit activities on the upper levels, often described as a brothel. The tunnel, constructed alongside the Brown Palace Hotel, was officially meant to share coal between the buildings. Unofficially, it discreetly transported male guests from the Brown Palace to The Navarre.
Though sealed off today, the tunnel remains a symbol of Denver’s hidden history and is said to be one of the first in a series of underground passages beneath the city. After serving as a fine dining restaurant and later as a jazz club, The Navarre now houses The American Museum of Western Art, a fitting homage to its ‘Wild West’ legacy.
