Mary Ann Hall

Title

Mary Ann Hall

Description

Mary Ann Hall purchased a home in 1840 on land where the National Museum of the American Indian is today. Her three-story home became the site of a high end brothel for the District. Archaeologists excavated fragments of champagne bottles, oyster shells, and fine china, all indicating the upscale clientele of Hall's establishment. She created a profitable business. In 1860, Hall owned real estate and personal property valued at over $18,000. By the time of her death in 1886 that estate had grown to $100,000, the equivalent of $1.9 million today.

Creator

Source

Smithsonian Institution Architectural History and Historic Preservation Division. View original photograph.

Coverage

First Name

Mary Ann

Last Name

Hall

Birth Date

1815

Death Date

1886

Occupation

Biographical Text

Mary Ann Hall was a successful business owner in Washington, DC. While not much is known about her early life, Hall came to Washington in 1840 where she purchased a home on what today is the site of the National Museum of the American Indian.

Her home was a prominent brothel in the Washington area. Prostitution was not illegal in the District until 1914. Because of this Hall was able to create a profitable business. By the time Mary Ann Hall died in 1886 at the age of 71 her estate was valued at $100,000.

She was well respected in Washington, DC, and described as having "integrity unquestioned, a heart ever open to appeals of distress, a charity that was boundless" in her obituary.

Description

Mary Ann Hall purchased a home in 1840 on land where the National Museum of the American Indian is today. Her three-story home became the site of a high end brothel for the District. Archaeologists excavated fragments of champagne bottles, oyster shells, and fine china, all indicating the upscale clientele of Hall's establishment. She created a profitable business. In 1860, Hall owned real estate and personal property valued at over $18,000. By the time of her death in 1886 that estate had grown to $100,000, the equivalent of $1.9 million today.

Creator

Mary Ann Hall

Birth Date

1815

Death Date

1886

Coverage

1860-1889

Source

Smithsonian Institution Architectural History and Historic Preservation Division. View original photograph.