Mary Ann Hall Mary Ann Hall purchased a home in 1840 on land where the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/49">National Museum of the American Indian</a> is today. Her three-story home became the site of a <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/6">high end brothel</a> 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. <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Mary+Ann+Hall">Mary Ann Hall</a> Smithsonian Institution Architectural History and Historic Preservation Division. <a href="http://www.si.edu/ahhp/madam">View original photograph.</a> <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1860-1889">1860-1889</a> <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1830-1859">1830-1859</a>