Is it worth a road trip to Wallace? No. Is it worth getting off the road driving through Wallace? Yes, even if the prostitutes don't work here anymore. $5 tours are optional (after reading the history, I regret not doing one). Regardless, the museum is cool because it is free* to see the artifacts (clothing, make-up, and such left in a rush by the workers under threat of a raid), affordable gifts, and few photo ops, like playing piano for the female mannequins (or, in this overly PC age: womannequins). It's well-preserved since doors (and legs) closed in the late 80s. read more

Oasis Bordello Museum - I usually play by EAR. - Museums Near Me - Wallace, Idaho

I recently made a stop in Wallace and had the chance to take the tour. It was great! I had done the tour a couple times in the past, but not for a long time. The new manager has done a fantastic polishing this place up. The main floor has some interesting artifacts, and the upstairs is very well put together. The lady who gave the tour was absolutely great. Very knowledgeable about the history and she presented the story well. The subject matter is adult, so this is appropriate for 16+. The tours are every hour, and if you find yourself in Wallace (as you should), this is very much worth your time. read more

Madames, Brothels, and the FBI, OH MY! SITREP A ragin brothel! Such an eclectic little find in Northern Idaho! SETUP Once upon a time - and not so very long ago, actually - there was this delightful cathouse in the little town of Wallace, Idaho, just off of I-90 (east of Coeur d'Alene). HISTORY Since the 1800s it had been doing BANGIN BUSINESS and it looked like nothing was gonna stop it. Flash forward (and I really mean FAR FORWARD to about 1988, when the FBI finally decides that there's too much fun going on here and decides to shut down the brothel. [Why the FBI? Well, it's 1988, Holmes, and if the local police, city council nor sheriff weren't gonna do anything about this, I guess NO ONE locally was going to.] And so a vibrant, colorful, and WELL-THOUGHT OF local business was forced to shut their doors, MUCH to the sadness of the local community. Because, you see, OASIS was a community pillar, gifting large sums of money for local charitable causes, and even sponsorship of the local high school football team! TODAY Now OASIS is a cheerful, quaint and fun MUSEUM excursion, and I swear the sweet older female docents of this lovely place have a mischievious twinkle in their eyes as if they knew a bit more about the hap'nins about this place (probably were "instigators" themselves, if you take my meaning. THE LOWDOWN Well worth the "nickel" tour and a lot of fun to browse the gift shop. Survey question below: "Good for kids?" Hell, why not! read more

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Stopped in Wallace to overnight during our road trip. Great town, lots of history and happy we did. We were walking around the town decided to stop and see what the Oasis Bordello Museum was about. Happy we did. Interesting history, never been inside a bordello. Would recommend if you have time. It's a quick tour. read more

I am a huge museum nerd.....this is my absolute favorite museum. It's not huge and doesn't take that long but they are right.....sex sells. It was crazy that everything in there was just as the girls left it when they fled from the FBI in the late 80s. The fridge was the only thing different since the new owner hadn't been in there for years since it was abandoned. The Atari, cassette tapes, even the old school cream of wheat dude that is now culturally insensitive everything is so nostalgic. Love love loved this museum. And the tour guide was funnyyyy talking about the lice remover for crabs the lady's had and the massive amounts of air fresheners. I couldn't believe everything even the shampoo was from my childhood and exactly how I remember read more

I am a fan for museums. Offbeat ones are my favorite. Because Oasis Bordello has been ranked high on various offbeat museum lists, I was interested and intetionally stopped by Wallace, ID. This place is more than wonderful. All artifacts are well preserved. Museum staff was knowledgable and resourceful PLUS very patient (I surely asked her too many questions). The half-hour tour added both sad and funny tastes to her-story. As I memtioned, this place is offbeat. Museum gift shop has great offbeat t shirt selections. For example, price chart and funny statements could be on the back of a shirt. Along with many choices, all post cards are very reasonably priced. Other merchandises, such as mugs and funny shirts, could be slightly overpriced. However, it is a very unique museum. One of its own kind. It worths. Before I left, I bought many cards, an apron, and a t-shirt. Overall I am very satisfied. My only complaint is museum hours are not well publicized online. read more

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This was not planned trip but definitely worth the detour. Wallace has a long history of prostitution and this museum is a moment frozen in time from 1988. The tours begin on the hour and half hour and is $5 dollars. The tour is politically correct of course this is still adult only due the nature of museum. read more

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We love museums and this was a unique one for us that we had to try. Wallace itself is kind of preserved back in time and it is cute (make sure you find the Center of the Universe!). The Oasis operated as a brothel from the early 1900s to mid 1980s. it is more preserved as it was abruptly left in the 80s. The subject matter was tastefully presented and was appropriate (I guess for some of the children on the tour - and our tour guide was a high school girl!). Definitely worth checking out if you are open to history's darker side. And not very expensive - $5 for a 30 minute tour. read more

The day they were forced to close in 1988, whoever was left there decided it best to make the beds, wrap the lipstick covered butt filled ashtrays in cellophane and fill the empty beds with mannequins in retro 80's whore outfits. The juke still has the same songs and the kitchen is still stocked with the same food. There is a lightly funkified smell (might be a figment of the imagination) wafting through the stale, unmoving air. If you think it might be cool or at least novel to breathe the same air as 1988 brothel patrons and whores for five dollars this is your place. As in any other museum you will be asked to "please do not touch". Believe me you won't have a problem with that rule. read more

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This place was awesome; We took the tour and it was really interesting to see everything in the state it was left nearly 30 years ago, down to groceries on the counter and butts in the ash trays. The tour was informative and our guide was friendly. The gift shop has plenty of options at reasonable prices so I got a drink cozy and a couple "service menus" to take home and surprise my friends with. The town of Wallace itself is adorable, & Oasis is a must visit and certainly an entertaining piece of old west history! read more

Oasis Bordello Museum - Museums Near Me - Wallace, Idaho

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Every time we have company come to town (CdA) we take them to Wallace to check out the museums and my favorite is the Oasis Bordello. It is such a huge part of our history here in North Idaho, the owners have done a great job getting the information out there in a fun and educational way. I love to local aspect as well, like the band uniforms that the girls bought for the school and the list of local doctors on the wall they used (one of which delivered me =] ). I recommend this to anyone traveling through the Valley. read more

My daughter was visiting so I wanted to take her to places where she would learn more about the history of Wallace. The bordellos of Wallace are very much a part of the Silver Valley history. The cool thing about this museum is that it is that you feel like you have stepped back into the 1980s. A must see for anyone visiting historic Wallace. read more

Museum does not allow visitors to enter unless you are a group of 2 or more people. Seriously.

This is a "DO NOT MISS"!!!! It sure takes you back in time. I actually had the same bedspread... white shag look.... on our bed about 1965 in San Francisco. Maybe "Ginger" and I have something in common??? Ha! Ha! It really does look like the "girls" simply got up and left, thinking they were going to return within a few days. I did ask if i could take pictures but the gentleman that took me on the tour said that they would rather you didn't... and I was not the least put out by it. The history is incredible but I just wish that I would have had the opportunity to talk to "Ginger"! I am so glad that they were able to preserve and show this part of Wallace's history. read more

The tour was great and incredible thorough. It's $5 per person and all the workers seem genuinely happy to be there and educate people about the history of Wallace and their bordellos. Tours run every 30 minutes and last 30 minutes, so it's a nice easy stop to break up your drive. Our tour guide was incredibly happy to answer any questions we had and made it a fun and interactive tour. Highly recommend! read more

When the FBI decides to suddenly move into town to fight local corruption, what's the local bordello to do? Close down, of course, immediately. The fact that the FBI decides to spend three years in Wallace means that the business is sold, lock stock and barrel. Fast forward 20+ years, and you have a pretty cool museum, so to speak. Well worth the $5 per head for the guided tour. read more

Cute little museum in a cute little historic town. I would definitely stop here again on my way through. Make sure and get one of their original T-Shirts. I just love wearing mine and getting all kinds of comments. read more

VERY interesting! Knowledgable tour guide, well preserved slice of history... I highly recommend this stop in historic Wallace, ID :-)

It's worth going, not just for the novelty (hey, I'm at a bordello museum!), but also because it's a truly interesting place. Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable, answered all of our questions with ease, and I was completely fascinated by this little time capsule. It's worth going to, for sure. read more

interesting small museum,The whole place is kind of like a time capsule.It's worth the money to see and it's in a nice small town with A LOT of history itself. read more