Meet the "Working Girl"

In the video below, you'll meet one of the “working doves” at Julia's bordello and hear her tell about her line of work on the 1880s frontier. She and other "sinners" from the frontier are waiting for you at the Sin in the Sagebrush exhibit. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day, you'll encounter a miner, or gambler, or saloonkeeper or other “working women” at Julia's.

Discover how early settlers of the High Desert dealt with the universal need for community and connection on the harsh, lonely frontier.

As one dove tells it, she says, “I am proud that I am the top earner at Julia's, although I do split all of my earnings with the madam, but she is good to me. I work at maintaining my beauty to keep up my earnings. I take Dr. Rose’s Arsenic wafers to keep my eyes bright and my skin pale.”

“Now, this job ain’t so bad with a sippin’ whiskey in my hand and a pretty dress on. I dream of working in a parlor house, one with mirrors, velvet curtains and a large piano. Then I’d only have to entertain men of a certain quality.”

So come and meet these folks. Ask how they fell into their professions, and you’ll discover the human stories behind the stereotypes.