As with any mining town in the 1800's, Wallace was predominantly a men's town in the early years, and businesses that "served" men's interests naturally sprang up quickly. At one time Wallace reportedly was home to 12 bars and 12 brothels.
One of the "quirks" of the town was that the brothels somehow managed to survive (and thrive, I'm sure!) until 1973. For some reason, the state and local officials turned a blind eye to Wallace's "special" services until that time.
One of the most famous brothels in town was the Oasis Bordello. According to local legend, the girls of the Oasis got wind of the fact that the feds were on their way to Wallace to shut down the brothels and arrest the girls. They fled from the town and left almost everything behind. When the feds arrived, all they found was clothing, food and furniture. When the girls found out what was going on, they left instantly, leaving food on the counter, dishes in the sink, and clothing in the closets. The bordello is now a museum, and things have basically been left the way the girls left it when they fled. It makes for a very interesting tour.
Guided tours are offered on the half hour daily from 9:30 to 5:30. (11:00 to 3:00 on Sundays) Admission is $5.00 per person.
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Phone: (208) 753-0801
Address: 605 Cedar Street
Directions: In downtown Wallace, behind the old train station.
Website: http://myweb.cebridge.net/jmmayfield/
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on Sep 4, 2007
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