Everleigh Club, brothel which operated in Chicago
The Everleigh Club was a brothel with fifty rooms located on South Dearborn Street in Chicago's red-light district, operating from 1900 to 1911. The spaces displayed ornamental decoration including the Gold Room with gold-rimmed fish bowls, a Chinese-inspired chamber, and rooms styled with Persian and Turkish motifs, silk draperies, mirrors, and fine furnishings throughout.
The club opened in 1900 when sisters Minna and Ada Everleigh, who had built wealth during the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in Omaha, established it as one of Chicago's most expensive establishments. Reform pressure and civic campaigns led Mayor Carter Harrison Jr. to order its closure in 1911, forcing the operators to leave the city.
The establishment represented a status symbol for affluent men of that era. The exclusive admission requiring letters of recommendation or personal introduction made access itself a mark of social distinction in early 20th-century Chicago.
The location was difficult to access and required social connections or formal letters of recommendation for entry. The establishment was known for high prices, with champagne costing twelve dollars and meals around fifty dollars, not including additional services.
Prince Henry of Prussia visited the club in 1902, contributing to its legendary status though details of his visit remain contested. The visit of European royalty bolstered its reputation as a world-known luxury destination and attracted even more wealthy patrons.
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