Antonito in Conejos County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Warshauer Mansion
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2025
1. Warshauer Mansion Marker
Fred Warshauer was born in the Province of Posen in 1859 a part of modern day Germany and Poland. He was Jewish and fled Europe to avoid being drafted into the Prussian army. He lived in poverty until coming to the United States and settling in Conejos County in 1879. Upon arriving, he knew little English, but was employed by a local mercantile where he learned both English and Spanish, as well as the merchandising business. In 1889, he went into business for himself as a real estate and loan agent.
He became a successful banker and lumberer, but he gained his wealth in real estate and wool production. After his first home burned down in 1911, he hired George F. Harvey to design his European style mansion in the heart of Antonito in 1912. He did not live in the mansion long; in 1913, after suffering from depression and other illnesses, Warshauer tragically took his own life.
The largest room has beautiful murals, a fireplace, shelves covering the walls, and a central grand staircase. Newel post lamps and an original mural sit at the base of the grand staircase. The mansion has been used as a restaurant, a home, other businesses, and is now the Antonito Town Hall.
ΏSabes que? [Did you know?] The mansion has five tall chimneys: two in the front, two in the back, and one in the center rear. It originally
this page online
Town of Antonito
Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area
A member of the National Heritage Area System
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Immigration • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.
Location. 37° 4.579′ N, 106° 0.615′ W. Marker is in Antonito, Colorado, in Conejos County. It is at the intersection of River Street and West 5th Avenue, on the right when traveling south on River Street. The Warshauer Mansion, now Antonito Town Hall, occupies the northwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 515 River Street, Antonito CO 81120, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains and in the San Luis Valley. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Don Celedonio Mondragσn (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); S.P.M.D.T.U. Concilio Superior (about 500 feet away); Fred "Lightning Heart" Haberlein (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Horse and the Indian (approx. 0.4 miles away); Welcome to Colorado / Antonito Country (approx.
Denver Public Library
2. Marker detail: First Warshauer Residence
First Warshauer family residence built in the Victorian Queen Anne architectural style that was destroyed by fire.
Regarding Warshauer Mansion. National Register of Historic Places № 74000564 and Colorado State Register of Historic Places Site № 5CN.69.
From the National Register Nomination prepared by Barbara Robins, 11/8/1973:
The Warshauer Mansion in Antonito, Colorado, designed by George F. Harvey of Denver for Fred Benjamen Warshauer in 1912, stands as a fine example of scale, simplicity, and grace. Constructed of pressed brick laid in stretcher bond, it is trimmed throughout with wood milled in Iowa and shipped to Antonito for installation. The second floor is accented with stucco within the exposed pediment formed by the gable and simply decorated frieze. While attention to detail is paid throughout, nonetheless, the front of the house received the greatest of the economically employed motif.
The structure is built on a balanced, slightly modified "H" plan with no one facade particularly dominant. It is a two-story building with fullbasement. The bellcast roof gables are overlaid with red tile and are set off with simply decorated bargeboards and returns.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 20253. Warshauer Mansion MarkerLooking west from River Street. The marker is on the left side of the walkway.
On the inside, exposed frame ceilings and extensive paneling, again decorated in a very appealing economy, lend an instant compatibility with the outside. A local Denver artist, Jens Eriksen who attended art school for six years in his native Copenhagen, was commissioned to decorate the interior with the many murals found throughout the residence.
Mr. Warshauer established himself in banking and lumbering in addition to raising hogs, but it was principally sheep raising that brought him to his greatest prominence. His sheep interests eventually monopolized Conejos and other surrounding county markets. Long susceptible to fits of depression and ill health, however, he had reached the zenith of his economic and social rise when he killed himself, leaving to his survivors several companies and a sizable fortune. Self-educated and self-made, his home, which included a large library, has remained a show case in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado.
Also see . . .
1. Warshauer Mansion (History Colorado).Excerpt: This large 1912 brick and stucco home, with a red tile roof, was built for Fred B. Warshauer, a German immigrant who rose to county prominence(Submitted on August 28, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)in the sheep business. Denver architect George F. Harvey, Jr. drew the plans according to Warshauers specifications.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 20254. Warshauer Mansion (southeast elevation)Today it serves as the Antonito Town Hall.
2. Frederick Benjamin Fred Warshauer (1859-1913) (Find A Grave).(Warshauer Cemetery, Antonito, Conejos County, Colorado, USA)(Submitted on August 29, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 20255. Warshauer Mansion (south elevation)Looking north from West 5th Avenue.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 20256. Warshauer Mansion (east/front elevation)From the National Register Nomination: The Warshauer Mansion is an architectural surprise in the little sheep town of Antonito. Most of the indigent architecture is adobe or frame and rather unpretentious. This mansion built on its huge scale, with distinctly European design and exquisite attention to detail work creates an outstanding visual landmark. The elegance with which the home was distinguished was also fairly unique for that region.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 28, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 128 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 28, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on August 29, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 28, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
