Kauffman House, Historic log hotel and museum in Grand Lake, Colorado
Kauffman House is a wooden structure in Grand Lake featuring rounded exterior logs and traditional fish-scale shingles covering its gable sections. The building now operates as a museum that preserves the story of early settlement in this mountain region.
Local prospector Ezra Kauffman built this structure in 1892, personally selecting and transporting wood from the surrounding forest. The building remained Grand Lake's primary lodging facility for travelers and visitors until 1973.
The house displays everyday items from early mountain settlers, including clothing, furniture, and kitchen equipment that show how people lived in the Colorado Rockies during that era. Visitors can see the practical objects that shaped daily life in a remote alpine community.
The museum is within walking distance of downtown Grand Lake and sits near the shore of the lake. Visitors should know that access may be limited depending on the season and it helps to check hours before making a trip.
The building had an advanced water system featuring a galvanized tank installed in the attic, filled by hand pump directly from the lake shore. This practical engineering solution was remarkable for the era when the house was built.
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