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    Miss Laura's Visitor Center

    141 reviews
    #1 of 7 Shopping in Fort Smith
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    About Miss Laura's Visitor Center
    Our Visitor Center, "Miss Laura's Social Club," is located inside of Fort Smith's historic downtown area and sits alongside the Arkansas River. Out of seven "row houses" that lined Fort Smith's Old West red light district, Miss Laura's is the only house of ill-repute that stood the test of time. Now, it is the only former bordello on the National Register of Historic Places, and it has been fully restored to its original grandeur. Make Miss Laura's your first stop and we’ll give you a tour of this Victorian mansion that has become a prominent symbol of this once boisterous border town's very colorful past!
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    Hours Today: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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    Fort Smith, AR
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    Miss Laura's Visitor Center
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    Reviews (141)
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    All reviews social club first stop welcome center our tour guide railroad tracks old house national register of historic places quick tour beautifully restored building period items the stained glass windows laura's house bus trip funny stories local attractions fun place to visit donation box
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    1 - 10 of 141 reviews
    Reviewed December 11, 2018
    Friendly & knowledgeable volunteers.

    Miss Laura's was a brothel among a string of other houses of ill repute. It is an interesting part of the history of Ft. Smith as a Fort and bordering Indian territory, and the Hanging Judge of the downtown Museum and other historic landmarks.

    Date of experience: June 2018
    Thank j4man479
    Reviewed November 26, 2018
    We stopped for 10 minutes and stayed for 45 !!!

    Have you ever wondered what an early 20th century brothel looked like??? Miss Laura's visitor center is housed in a restored brothel. Our guide was great. I wish I remembered his name (though he is in the picture I've posted here), he is a retired...More

    Date of experience: October 2018
    Thank ededed2017
    Reviewed November 14, 2018 via mobile
    Miss Laura's Visitor Center

    It's a MUST SEE! I live in Arkansas and just found out about this little beautiful piece of history. The staff was so helpful and showed my friends and I all around while telling us the history of the old brothel.

    Date of experience: November 2018
    Thank harrycomeear
    Reviewed November 9, 2018
    Fun Experience

    On a recent bus trip to Arkansas, our first stop was at Miss Laura's. This is the visitor center and former bordello. The building has been thru some major issues including a tornado which ripped off the roof and damaged most of the interior, yet...More

    Date of experience: October 2018
    Thank akoerner1234
    Reviewed November 4, 2018
    Helpful and Interesting

    The volunteers that work here are full of information about Ft. Smith and Miss Laura's which is a neat old building with history. It is worth the time to take a tour and look around.

    Date of experience: October 2018
    Thank Deanna K
    Reviewed October 24, 2018 via mobile
    Unexpected

    Stopped in for information knowing it was an historic bordello. It was unexpected that we would be greeted at the door and given a tour of a beautifully restored building with an inteteresting history. Worth a stop if in the area.

    Date of experience: October 2018
    Thank g91158
    Reviewed October 11, 2018 via mobile
    Fun stop

    We arrived shortly before they were closing, however the tour guide gave us a quick tour. If I’m going through the area again, I’d go to get more info and look at the pictures/items more.

    Date of experience: October 2018
    Thank scrmonster
    Reviewed October 9, 2018
    6 miles off the interstate and well worth the detour

    Stopping at this visitor's center turned out to be a bit of an adventure. We exited I-40 at exit #1 - the last exit in Arkansas because we saw a sign for the visitor's center. Once off the interstate, we realized that the visitor's center...More

    Date of experience: October 2018
    1  Thank N3497IQjimh
    Reviewed October 9, 2018 via mobile
    Fun and clever historic Fort Smith!

    I had no idea Miss Laura's Visitor Center would be so much fun! Great visitor stop... friendly volunteers and tour guides..excellent piece of early Arkansas history. Miss Laura just happened to be there during our visit. She runs a tight ship! Make sure you sample...More

    Date of experience: October 2018
    Thank drkristyosu
    Reviewed October 3, 2018
    Very helpful

    We stopped by mostly for the Visitors Center. We met with Suzie a long time resident of Ft. Smith and retired teacher. She was so helpful. Gave us lots of suggestions on places to see while in Ft. Smith and since we are considering relocating...More

    Date of experience: September 2018
    Thank kes1639
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    wharris142018
    January 28, 2018|
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    Response from Charles D | Reviewed this property |
    Think they are open 9-4 M-F, not sure about weekend times!
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