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In 1996, there was an archaeological excavation at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles which uncovered LA’s former red light district that closed down in 1909 as well as  the nearby residential neighborhood and commercial area.

By the 1880s families began moving out of Aliso Street near Chinatown to more upscale neighborhoods which transformed residences into boarding houses  or parlor houses otherwise known as brothels and became occupied by prostitutes.

During the excavation it became hard to tell which items were used for work or home such as liquor bottles, stemmed glasses, tumblers, cosmetics, drugs and medication. Disease was very present in parlor houses at this time. However, archaeologists have a hard time distinguishing if they were personal or work related. The most commonly found artifacts at the brothel were foodways like fancy cups and dishes as well as beaded lampshades and globe lamps. Could these also have been staged to create ambiance? Most likely however, artifacts that were liquor related were most likely used for work since it constituted for 66% of artifacts at the brothel while at residences, bottles and glassware was at just 30%.