Butte, Montana: Historic Dumas Brothel Museum

My husband and I found this on a recent trip to Butte. From the brochure... "The Dumas was designed and built as a brothel in 1890 and continued as such until its closure in 1982, making it America's longest running house of prostitution. It was one of the first two-story brick structures built in Butte's notorious Red Light District along Mercury Street. The Dumas is the last intact example of this type of architecture (Victorian "brotheleze") left in the United States. Come take the tour and learn of The Dumas's sensuous past. Hear the stories of the ghost of Elinore who still roams the halls of The Dumas...... There is no admission to this famous house of ill-repute. Guided tours of the underground "cribs" are available. These tiny rooms were accessible thought the tunnels which connected the Red Light District with some of the Uptown business district. Last used in 1943, the cribs are the originals. Price for the tour is $2.50 for an adult."

This place is incredible!! The upstairs is still very much the same as it was when the place was left in 1982. But the highlight of the entire place is the tour of the cribs. Owner Rudy Giecek takes you on a personal tour with just a flashlight. As you walk down the stairs he points out the scratches on the walls that were probably from gentlemen striking matches to light cigarettes. Since this area was closed off from 1943 no one had been down there since he opened it up in 1990. You can almost hear the people talking, making deals, being seduced for lunch. He found things that the girls had left behind....pinups on the walls, bed clothes, bobby pins, empty cigarette tins, lipstick and even (hold on to your hat) and old vibrator.