Butte in Silver Bow County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Dumas Hotel

Butte National Historic Landmark District

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 13, 2021

1. Dumas Hotel Marker

Inscription.
French Canadian brothers Arthur and Joseph Nadeau built this house of prostitution in 1890. Reflecting the architecture of the trade, each room features a door and window so customers could “shop.” In 1900, when Grace McGinnis was madam, the Dumas was in the heart of the red-light district, an area roughly two blocks square and crowded with saloons and gambling halls. Prostitutes worked everywhere from squalid alley “cribs” to high class “parlor houses” such as the Dumas. Prostitution, although never legal in Butte, was tolerated as a necessity for miners and “gentlemen” alike. The district faded as years passed, but women at the Dumas serviced customers until 1982.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 46° 0.691′ N, 112° 32.036′ W. Marker is in Butte, Montana, in Silver Bow County. Marker is on East Mercury Street near South Wyoming Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 45 East Mercury Street, Butte MT 59701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this

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marker. Pleasant Alley and the Copper Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Pleasant Alley (within shouting distance of this marker); Butte Tin Shop (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 125-134 South Main (about 300 feet away); Butte Daily Post Building (about 400 feet away); Wah Chong Tai Company Building and Mai Wah Noodle Parlors (about 400 feet away); Push Saloon/Silver Dollar Saloon (about 400 feet away); Pekin Noodle Parlor (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Butte.

Also see . . . Red-Light Women of Wide-Open Butte. Women's History Matters website entry:
...existed solely to serve nearby military bases, but Butte’s district depended upon hometown customers. Butte earned the designation “wide-open”—a place where vice went unchecked—largely because of its flamboyant, very public red-light district and the women who worked there. (Submitted on November 9, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Additional keywords. prostitution

Dumas Hotel image. Click for more information.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 13, 2021

2. Dumas Hotel

"Butte’s Dumas Hotel needs help!"
Montana's Historic Landscapes website entry
Click for more information.

The Blue Range image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer

3. The Blue Range

These former "cribs" were recently torn down.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 165 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 9, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.