Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum

Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum, tucked away in the town of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was once a “house of ill repute.” 

Built in 1898, it is a beautiful Victorian baroque structure. This gorgeous house still looks much as it did then, replete with a mansard roof, wrought iron and oeil-de-boeuf dormer windows, making it one of the most distinct surviving houses in the country.

Situated just a stone’s throw from the river  in what was once a vibrant neighborhood known as “The Row,” which became the city's infamous regulated red-light district. Miss Laura’s was only one of several brothels which sprung up around the turn of the century. 

The brothel was built by Miss Laura Sargent. Miss Laura reportedly took out a total of  $5,000 in loans in addition to her using some of her own savings to build the brothel and purchase the land. She was able to repay the loans in just 17 months. Business was booming.

In 1910 two brothels on The Row had burned down because of an oil tanker explosion at the Fort Smith Light and Traction Company. No other houses were damaged in the fire. 

In 1911, Miss Laura sold the business to Bertha Gale Dean, known by some as Big Bertha, for $47,000. The house remained a brothel until Bertha Dean’s death in 1948. Bertha willed the property to her partner Jules Bartholomy. Jules passed away in 1963 and his family had no interest in the house. The house was purchased by Don Reynolds and was subsequently left vacant by Mr. Reynolds. 

In 1973 Julia Yadon took on the responsibility of putting Miss Laura's on the National Register of Historic Places. After remaining vacant and in disrepair for 20 years, Reynolds partnered with another agency to begin restoration efforts in earnest in 1983, and a year later, Miss Laura’s Social Club and Restaurant was opened. The restaurant didn’t last long, it was closed in 1988. In 1992 the house was re-opened as one of the most unique visitor centers in the nation. 

Today, you can still visit Miss Laura’s, the interior of which is full of artifacts and furnishings. The house itself is stunning, having been meticulously restored to its original glory during the restaurant renovation. The staff is diligently working to grow the story of not only Miss Laura's but the story of The Row and all of the women who lived and worked there. Miss Laura's is on a mission to correct the historical folklore that has been widespread for so long. They are are passionate about delivering the true history of this amazing house.