The Hiwan Homestead Garden,

Drs. Douglas and Marquette began a sanitarium for tuberculosis patients in downtown Denver in 1891. At that same time, they built several platform tents in the grove adjoining the Douglas' large Hiwan house. It is believed that the tuberculosis patients were brought up from Denver to stay in those tents as a cure for TB.

During that time in history, medicinal herbs played a large part in the cure of TB -- and many other diseases. Plants that could have been considered medicinal were probably ones that were used as healing oils or inhalants. Since tuberculosis was a disease of the lungs, boiling herbs and having the patients breathe the tinctures would have been helpful. Among the herbs used as tonics were yarrow, sage, dandelion, peppermint, catnip and rose hips. These were thought to strengthen the whole body.

The Hiwan Garden team, coordinated by Bev Wickland, is hoping to document many of the plants and herbs used by the doctors and incorporate similar varieties that will grow in our semi-arid environment.

The list of Mountain West Medicinal Plants that are being considered for the garden include: Arnica, Angelica, Bee Balm, Coneflower, Cranesbill, St. John's Wort, Prickly Poppy and Mahonia (berries).

An added benefit of planting medicinal herbs is the hope that the elk and deer that frequent the grove area will be deterred by the aromas of the herbs (be sure to come to the April 8th garden club meeting for more on using aromatic plants to deter elk and deer!).

The Hiwan Garden renewal project will begin on April 16 with the help of students from Evergreen High School.

More About the Hiwan Homestead Museum
Step Back Into The Past

This 17-room log lodge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its unique construction. Hiwan's restored 1890-1930 era rooms illustrate a comfortable style of early mountain summer home living. As a local history museum, it maintains active craft and interpretive school programs as well as changing exhibitions, which are sponsored by the Jefferson County Historical Society.

Hiwan Homestead was a cherished mountain retreat to the families who lived within its rough-hewn walls. In the 1890's, Mary Neosho Williams, a Civil War widow, and her daughter Josepha were among the aristocratic society of Denver who camped at Evergreen.

They acquired the simple log structure and hired John "Jock" Spence, a Scottish carpenter, to convert it to a summer cottage. The property was named Camp Neosho after Mrs. Williams' middle name. Overnight guests would stay in tents, comfortably equipped with wood floors, stoves and double canvas walls.

In 1889, Josepha graduated from Gross Medical School in Denver and became one of Colorado's first women doctors. Seven years later, Josepha married Canon Charles Winfred Douglas, an Episcopal clergyman who achieved world acclaim for his musical work.

Josepha Douglas died in 1938 and the house was sold to Tulsa oilman, Darst Buchanan. His wife re-named the land Hiwan Ranch. Buchanan's Hiwan Hereford cattle were known throughout the country and won many stock show prizes.
Six generations of notable families lived in this rustic mountain lodge before it was developed as a museum by Jefferson County Open Space in 1974.