Sin in the Sagebrush Q and A
What makes this exhibit unique?
- This is the first exhibit to examine in such a fashion how saloons, gambling halls, bordellos, blood sports and opium use shaped the early communities of the Western frontier.
- Historic artifacts and live portrayals of the people of the pioneer West allow visitors to immerse themselves in this unique period of American history.
What live character portrayals might I encounter in the exhibit?
- Julia, the madam; one of her “working girls” who goes by the name of “Little Lost Chicken;” William, the professional gambler; a miner and a saloonkeeper are some of the characters who appear in the exhibit daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
What are some of the more revealing artifacts to look for in the exhibit?
- Photos Rosa May, a prostitute and madam who had worked throughout the High Desert, and died while nursing miners through a pneumonia epidemic. An excerpt from a letter to her in 1876 from Laura Davenport, a prostitute who had worked with May, illustrates some of the heart-rending situations of women in this profession.
- The restored, century-old mahogany bar in the exhibit’s re-created Stockman Saloon, is fully stocked, including whiskey decanters that feature brand names, elegantly painted in white enamel. Other branded items marketing the sale of alcohol and tobacco, indicate how this was a significant part of the frontier community economy. In a glass case at the end of the bar, notice the cigar accessories that prominently feature the Lillian Russell brand.
- The device that shaves the edges of cards, allowing professional gamblers to cheat at games such as poker, three-card monte and 21. The elaborate “Kepplinger Holdout,” let a gambler subtly move his thigh under the table to produce a card from his sleeve. A sign reads, “This is a square house.” Most gambling halls prominently displayed proclamations of honesty, but cheating was rampant. Historians theorize that gambling was so popular on the Western frontier because everyone who came here was a risk-taker, betting that this untamed land offered a chance at a new life.
Is this exhibit family-friendly?
- The exhibit is open to everyone. We like to say it’s between a PG and PG-13 presentation.
- This exhibit explores alcohol, gambling and prostitution as part of the settlement of the West. The more mature content is at the back of the gallery [prostitution and the opium den].
- We recommend that parents preview the exhibit first if there are concerns about its appropriateness for children.