Hidden in plain sight. Whispered about, judged, and often erased from the history books — yet absolutely essential to the growth of the American West. Prostitution, the so-called “oldest profession,” wasn’t just scandal on the frontier — it was big business. It fueled boomtown economies, supported camps and cities, and helped shape communities as they […]
Human Trafficking Awareness Series at Miss Laura’s Join us at Miss Laura’s this January for a powerful 4-part Human Trafficking Awareness Series designed to educate, engage, and empower our community. Gather critical resources, connect with others who care, and hear firsthand stories from survivors and advocates actively working to raise awareness and create change. Each […]
Human Trafficking Awareness Series at Miss Laura’s Join us at Miss Laura’s this January for a powerful 4-part Human Trafficking Awareness Series designed to educate, engage, and empower our community. Gather critical resources, connect with others who care, and hear firsthand stories from survivors and advocates actively working to raise awareness and create change. Each […]
🕙 Join us Saturday January 24th at 10:00 AM as we finish up our January read. They were rule-breakers, risk-takers, and community builders. From common working women to powerful madams like Anna Wilson, Maggie Wood, and Big Ann Wynne, these women defied social norms to carve out independence, wealth, and influence — often at great […]
Human Trafficking Awareness Series at Miss Laura’s Join us at Miss Laura’s this January for a powerful 4-part Human Trafficking Awareness Series designed to educate, engage, and empower our community. Gather critical resources, connect with others who care, and hear firsthand stories from survivors and advocates actively working to raise awareness and create change. Each […]
🎬 JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL SCREENING 🎬 February 6 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm Free What better way to spend a Friday Night? With us in a unique partnership with the Fort Smith Public Library for a screening of: The End of the Road (1919) Step back into the early days of cinema for a powerful […]
Upstairs Girls by Michael Rutter pulls back the curtain on the hidden world of prostitution in the American West—where the most sought-after women lived and worked upstairs, away from the saloons and streets below. From lavish parlor houses and powerful madams to the harsh realities faced by working women, this fascinating nonfiction work explores how […]
We will be finishing Upstairs Girls by Michael Rutter this week. This book pulls back the curtain on the hidden world of prostitution in the American West—where the most sought-after women lived and worked upstairs, away from the saloons and streets below. From lavish parlor houses and powerful madams to the harsh realities faced by […]
✨ An Evening in Storyville – 3rd Annual Celebration at Miss Laura’s ✨ Step back in time and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and stories of Storyville, the birthplace of jazz and one of the most influential neighborhoods in American music history. Join us at Miss Laura’s for an unforgettable evening where history comes […]
Step into a pivotal moment in women’s history with The Lost Sisterhood, written by the historical editor of the acclaimed Maimie Papers, Ruth Rosen. This powerful work explores two worlds colliding in urban America: the women who chose prostitution as a means of survival and independence, and the middle-class reformers determined to erase it from […]