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Title
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Mary Ann Hall
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Creator
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Mary Ann Hall
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Description
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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.
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Source
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Smithsonian Institution Architectural History and Historic Preservation Division. View original photograph.
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Coverage
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1860-1889
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1830-1859
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birthday
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1815
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Death Date
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1886
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Biographical Text
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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.
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Occupation
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Business
