Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Miss Laura's Social Club, a former bordello, is the only one of its kind listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1896, the Victorian baroque structure was initially known as the Riverfront Commercial Hotel. It was located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in a vibrant neighborhood known as "The Row," which became a red-light district. In 1898, Laura Ziegler purchased the hotel and turned it into a brothel, which became a successful business. However, as the town grew, regulations increased, and the brothel business began to decline. In 1911, Ziegler sold the business to Bertha Gale Dean, who ran it until her death in 1948. The building was abandoned and fell into disrepair until 1963, when local media figure Donald Reynolds bought it and began restoration efforts. In 1973, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1984, it reopened as a restaurant. Although the restaurant didn't last, it reopened as Fort Smith's visitor center in 1992. Today, visitors can tour the meticulously restored building, which is filled with artifacts and furnishings.