Senior Sailor Says…
Skagway, Alaska, was the jumping-off point for the men and women seeking fame and fortune as they headed into the wilderness to find gold in the rugged mountains.
This picturesque town is a popular cruise port on the Inside Passage, including for Holland America Line Koningsdam.
I planned an excursion for the afternoon, so I had the entire morning to explore Skagway and its interesting and exciting history.
My first stop was the historic Red Onion Saloon, built in 1897 on the corner of 2nd and Broadway. The original Red Onion Saloon operated as one of the finest bordellos in Skagway. Though times have changed, the bustling saloon and Bordello Museum are already filled with tourists right as they open for the 10 a.m. “quickie” tour.
Soon, Trixie called me and several other tourists up to the second floor.
Dressed in her best good-time girl attire, she took us to the original brothel, which was on the third floor.
She explained that the men paid $5; $1.25 was kept by the girl. The brothels were thriving businesses alongside saloons and mercantile, selling everything the men and women seeking their wealth might need.
Our fun-loving madam showed us some of the possessions the women left behind, including fans, jewelry, and hair combs. Ghost hunters are encouraged to look at their photos to see if they can capture the resident ghost.
The museum is filled with antiques from the gold rush. Many of the items on display were found in the brothel, and others are part of the owner’s personal collection.
Trixie explained that the saloon was once the classiest dance hall and saloon in the bustling gold rush town. The bordello consisted of 10 cribs (or rooms). Each crib was very small but elaborately decorated.
When a miner wanted to cure his thirst for love and affection, he chose his girl uniquely. Behind the bar were ten dolls that represented the ten girls upstairs.
Trixie said that as each customer chose a doll, the bartender would lay the doll on her back, indicating that that girl was “busy.” Once the gentleman came back down the stairs, the doll was sat upright, so every customer in the bar knew that she was once again available.
The Red Onion Saloon also offers a guided walking tour of Skagway’s historic streets and back alleys, where women of the evening brushed shoulders with notorious town characters and depict the lusty, and sometimes tragic lives of hundreds of women who followed the money to Skagway.
The tours are recommended for children older than 14. A parent or legal guardian must accompany participants under 21.
For more information about this excursion and Holland America Line, click here.
Photos by Marilyn Jones and Anne Paterson
