Stories and Secrets at Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Fort Smith, Arkansas has a very interesting past and Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum is an important part of its history.

Interestingly, for many years the former brothel was even the location of the visitor center for the city.

Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum

Now An Official Museum

During a recent trip to Fort Smith, Arkansas, we visited Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum. It is one of the most unique historical sites in this city.

Fort Smith was once a frontier military post on the banks of the Arkansas River.

After that, the town became the first line of defense to the wild side of the west. It remained a rough and tumble city even years after Hanging Judge Parker and US Marshals were brought in to clean up the lawlessness.

Recently the Visitor Center moved to a different location in order to better serve visitors, to be ADA compliant, and finally, to provide a place for families to get tourist information without have to answer a lot of questions from their younger children.

I think it was a great decision because now Miss Laura’s is now, in the words of our tour guide, “an official museum.”

Tour of the Museum

We were only able to see the downstairs of the building during our visit as the upstairs is being restored from offices back to its original condition.

Even so, we really enjoyed our tour and learned so much. Of course we heard about the history of the house but this tour also will give you a glimpse into the colorful past of Fort Smith.

The tour is free. You simply walk in and sign the book at the front of the building and wait for a tour to begin.

The museum has only a few of the original artifacts from its time as a brothel. However, the building has not changed much at all since those days. They have done a great job furnishing it with period pieces from the early 1900’s.

I was particularly struck by the stunning woodwork and pocket doors in the downstairs rooms, as well as the vibrant wall paper.

Our tour guide was excellent. She knew so much about the history of the house and it was obvious that the curators are always searching for more facts and knowledge about Miss Laura’s establishment.

We were shown artifacts and photographs all of which told stories of the women who would have worked in the brothel.

Our guide highlighted the resilience and the challenges that these women would have faced in a society with limited opportunities for them to make a living In any other way.

Due to the mature nature of the museum it is not for children. Visitors must be age 16 and up. However, I will say that nothing in the tour was graphic.

It was VERY interesting and we feel like we have a better picture of what life was like in Fort Smith for the women who owned and worked in this brothel about a century ago.

Pin

Here is a list of many more interesting museums in Arkansas!

History of Miss Laura’s Brothel

The brothel was originally built as the Riverfront Commercial Hotel in 1896. However, it was soon purchased by Laura Ziegler in 1898 who transformed the building in to a brothel.

Yes, prostitution was legal at this time in Fort Smith.

Laura Ziegler negotiated a loan from the bank to renovate the building and start her business.

It was rare in those days for an unmarried woman to be able to get a bank loan. However, her business was a success and she paid back the loan in 17 months.

This structure was part of a red light district that sat between the river and the train tracks. There were seven houses of ill repute all in a line on one street. It was colloquially known as “The Row.”

The exterior of the house is very similar now to the way it was in Miss Laura’s day.

Miss Laura’s brothel quickly gained a reputation for having the most beautiful woman and the highest standards. Many of the women who worked at there also had talents such as piano playing or singing or dancing.

The girls were also incredibly well dressed.

According to our tour guide some of their gowns would cost as much as ten thousand dollars in today’s money. We were told to imagine them dressed in a style similar to that of the wealthy women on the Titanic.

Zeigler also made sure that the women in her house had regular visits from the doctor.

In fact, we were shown a card that the women would have been given from the doctor. This card was required to be placed on the headboard of their bed to prove that they were free from disease.

Pin

Learn more about the best things to do in Fort Smith.

The Beginning of the End

Around 1910 local sentiment began to turn against these businesses.

The town actually put a fence around The Row and the women who worked there had to have permission to leave the fenced area.

Also in 1910 two of the houses on the row were destroyed in a fire and others were damaged. Miss Laura’s house remained intact but it is believed that she saw the writing on the wall for the future of this kind of business.

She sold the house to Bertha Dean in 1911.

Prostitution became illegal in Fort Smith in 1928, however the brothel continued to operate until Ms Dean’s death in 1948.

The House in Modern Times

By this time the area had deteriorated into slum like conditions and the house was abandoned until 1963 when the town announced that Miss Laura’s would be destroyed unless a buyer was found.

It was saved from destruction by Donald Reynolds, founder of Donrey Media Group, and the man for whom Donald Reynolds Razorback Stadium is named!

For a short while it became a restaurant called Miss Laura’s Social Club and Restaurant.

Pin

In 1973 Miss Laura’s Social Club was selected for the National Register of Historic Places. It was the only Arkansas bordello on the register.

Then it became the Visitor Center for Fort Smith in 1992 and remained the Visitor Center until 2024.

Now it is a fascinating museum.

Visiting Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum was an interesting and thought-provoking experience. 

It offers a unique perspective on the history of Fort Smith and the women who played a vital role in its development. 

For anyone interested in the complexities of frontier life and the stories of women that are often left out of traditional narratives, this museum is a must-see.

Thanks for stopping by!