The Unsinkable Houseguest: Molly Browns Stay at 517 Washington Street

Rumor has it– the first houseguest was The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Some homes hold more than just architectural charm—they carry incredible stories from the past. One such home in Lynchburg is 517 Washington Street, which has an unexpected connection to one of history’s most famous maritime survivors, Molly Brown—often remembered as The Unsinkable Molly Brown.

Before Brown became a household name for surviving the Titanic disaster, she was the very first houseguest to stay in this Lynchburg home. The original owners, the Williams family, and had planned to travel to Europe with their friend from Colorado Molly Brown. As trips in those days took several weeks, delays in the home's construction led Williams to cancel their trip, while Brown continued on—eventually finding herself in Egypt. When she cut her journey short, she was able to board passage in France on the quickest way home–aboard the Titanic.

After surviving the infamous sinking and losing her entire wardrobe at sea, Brown arrived in New York needing a new wardrobe. That’s when Mrs. Williams, who had just moved into her new home in Lynchburg, reached Brown and invited her to take the railway south to their Lynchburg home, as William's maid was also a talented seamstress. Brown spent about 10 days in Lynchburg before returning to Colorado.

This remarkable story adds another layer of historical intrigue to 517 Washington Street, a home with a past as captivating as the people who walked through its doors.

We were unable to find historical records to definitively confirm or refute that Molly Brown was a houseguest at the Williams Mansion. However, the timeline aligns, and there are accounts suggesting that the Williams family had connections to Colorado, Molly Brown’s home state. Special thanks to Martin Donovan, Realtor, for sharing this piece of history about 517 Washington Street.