Today, Market Street is a fashionable and trendy street in Denver's Historic Lodo Neighborhood. Located just west of popular Larimer Square, Market Street is hip and happening and a great place to go to find wonderful eateries, pubs, galleries and lofts. 120 years ago, things were just a bit different.
When the Gold Rush started in 1858, the influx of men looking to make their fortune by hitting it big in gold was staggering. The miners went into the mountains for weeks at a time. When they came down to Denver, with gold in their pockets, they often headed straight for the "soiled doves" that famous Madams such as Mattie Silks and Jennie Rogers brought in from the east.
Market Street, Denver's Red Light District, was well known throughout the West. It was Denver's flesh Market, get it? Market Street. While miners made their money digging in the hills, over 1,000 women made their money by providing "comfort" to the miners on their trips into Denver. Anything could be found on Market Street, from the most elaborate high end bordellos such as the House of Mirrors to cheap, dirty cribs.
Originally named McGaa Street, Market Street was re-named Holladay Street in 1866. But, by 1880, the prostitution business was so prevalent, that the Holladay family requested to have their name removed from the street, and the reputation that came with it. The city obliged, and re-named it Market Street. The most accurate name for a street full of brothels. Prostitution continued strong until about 1915, when city reforms forced the Madams of Market Street to go underground.
Today on Market Street you can find wonderful restaurants such as Sonoda's Sushi Bar, Old Chicago's and El Chapultepec.
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