Deadwood's Brothel Museum Opens In August

Most people aren’t surprised to find out that prostitution was big business in Deadwood’s early history. Back in the days of the Wild West, brothels were common in boom towns and mining camps, and television shows like Westworld, Hell on Wheels, and (of course) Deadwood remind viewers that the sex industry was an important element of the Frontier economy.

But when it comes to Deadwood, prostitution isn’t just a historic relic. Brothels were a major part of the local economy from the city’s founding in 1876 right up until 1980, when a raid by federal authorities finally closed them for good. In retrospect, it’s hard to believe the brothels flourished here for so long. It seems almost anachronistic, like the whole town was caught in a time warp. Strolling down the brick-paved streets of Deadwood today, that explanation might seem plausible.

The Brothel is located at 610 Main Street, just above what’s now known as the Eagle Bar. The space was once home to a bordello known as the Shasta Rooms.

But as much as Deadwood likes to preserve and advertise its Old West history, the legacy of prostitution has largely flown under the radar for the past four decades. Locals over the age of 50 remember the individual brothels, of course, and still tell stories about them - but most modern visitors can pass through Deadwood and never know that prostitution had a considerable impact on the town for more than a century.

And that’s why Deadwood History, the town’s local museum organization, decided to create a space dedicated to telling the story of Deadwood’s sex industry. They’re calling it simply the Brothel, and after nearly a year of renovation and restoration, it’ll be ready to open to the public on Saturday, August 1.

Deadwood History is still releasing information, but we know that visitors will go on a guided tour through what was once the Shasta Rooms or Beige Door Brothel at 610 Main Street. Different rooms in the old bordello have been decorated according to different eras, giving people a glimpse at what prostitution looked like in the Victorian era, the early 20th century, and on into the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. The curators have made it clear that the museum won’t romanticize the sex trade, and they intend to tell the story from multiple points of view, including the prostitutes, the madams, the customers, and the community at large.

We’ll post more information on our site once we know how you can buy tickets and go on a tour. Until then, if you’re planning to visit Deadwood sometime after July, you should definitely put this on your to-do list. Despite the importance of prostitution to the development of the Wild West, there are very few opportunities to explore former working brothels. We can’t wait to go on a tour for ourselves!

And of course, we hope we can host you on your next visit to Deadwood. Check out our available rooms, and click here if you’re ready to put in some dates and make a reservation.