Today I walked to Annie Chambers Tour at River Market.
Annie Chambers, 92
Annie arrived in Kansas City in 1870. She was widowed and had lost 2 children. She was once a school teacher but turned to prostitution.
Annie's 24 room mansion
This is where her mansion once stood
At the time Kansas City had over 80 bars and 40 brothels. Annie ran her brothel from 1880 to 1921. Annie's brothel was high class and the most profitable. While many of the establishments charged 25 cents for a "visit", Annie charged $10. Her employees were dressed in the latest fashion, had strict standards when seen in public, and often Annie found them husbands.
The Society for Suppression of Commercialized Vice was on a mission to destroy the red light district. Annie was the target. Her business was shutdown many times and always reopened. Finally in 1921 the doors closed for good. Annie converted her mansion to a boarding house.
This mural is now at the site of Annie's house.
Where this building now stands was once the site of the City Union Mission.
Beulah Bulkey, and her husband Reverend David Bulkey opened the Mission. Beulah and Annie would become friends. Beulah and David converted Annie to become a Christian. Annie left her mansion to the City Union Mission. The building became housing for the homeless and a women's shelter.
Remember the mirror at the National Archives?
It's from Annie's mansion.
Just a few more pictures of my walk, Police Garage.
Looking down 3rd Street at the Cold Storage Building.
National Register of Historical Places
Old Richards and Conover Hardware Building
Now Loft Apartments
I walked and took pictures for 3 hours. I have enough pictures for tomorrow too which is good because I need to go to Lowe's again. I need to make sure the order has been changed and can move forward.
Until tomorrow.
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