Red Lights on the River
During the late 1800s, the center of Milwaukee's red-light district was one block west of Water Street on River Street, now called Edison Street. The district's other boundaries were Wells Street, Juneau Avenue and Market Street, placing Milwaukee's seediest enterprises squarely in the shadow of City Hall (6 above).
Vice flourished and convention business boomed under the flamboyant and notoriously corrupt Mayor David Rose, first elected in 1898. "All the Time Rosy," as he was known, refused to enforce anti-prostitution laws and supported gambling houses and all-night saloons, so long as their business didn't spill out of the River Street District.
Rose survived a decade in the mayor's office, even after 83 cronies were indicted. Milwaukeeans finally got fed up, electing the first majority Socialist government in a major American city in 1910. Soon after, Milwaukeeans sent the nation's first Socialist congressional representative to Washington. By 1912, the River Street District was effectively shut down.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment
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Location. 43° 2.538′ N, 87° 54.732′ W. Marker is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is in East Town. The marker is along the Milwaukee RiverWalk on the east side of the Milwaukee River behind the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. The marker is between E. Kilbourn Ave. and E. State St. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Milwaukee WI 53202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Milwaukee River at Play (here, next to this marker); An Outdoor Gallery (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A German Heritage (about 300 feet away); Father Marquette's Camp - 1674 (about 500 feet away); Pere Jacques Marquette, S.J. (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Pere Jacques Marquette, S.J. (about 500 feet away); Pere Marquette Historic Site (about 600 feet away); Oneida Street Power Plant (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milwaukee.
Additional keywords. Milwaukee RiverWalk prostitution
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2019, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 465 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 1, 2019, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
