Miss Laura's Social Club

One of seven houses of ill-repute in the red-light district, Miss Laura's Social Club was known as the"Queen of the Row" in the bordertown of Fort Smith, Arkansas.  Built in 1896 as The Riverfront Hotel, the building was purchased 1898 by Laura Zeigler who had moved to Arkansas from Vermont.  She opened it as a brothel in 1903.  Perched on the Arkansas River, it came to be known as the "grandest bordello of the west" in the rough-and-tumble town of Fort Smith.  Legalized prostitution ended in 1924 and the building fell into disrepair following the death of the second madam, Bertha Gale Dean. 

Donald W. Reynolds purchased the building in 1963 to save it from the wrecking ball.  In early 1973, it became the first bordello to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Completely restored to its historic beauty, it now serves as Fort Smith's Visitors Center.  Any trip into Fort Smith's colorful past should begin at our historic Miss Laura's!

In business since 1993, Miss Laura's Gifts has provided unique souvenirs and gifts to folks visiting Fort Smith from all over the world.  We are now happy to offer these items through our website.

Miss Laura's Gifts - a business with a history!