Red Light Women of Death Valley

by Robin Flinchum

From the 1870s to the turn of the century, while countless men gambled their fortunes in Death Valley's mines, many bold women capitalized on the boom-and-bust lifestyle and established saloons and brothels. These lively ladies were clever entrepreneurs and fearless adventurers but also mothers, wives and respected members of their communities. Madam Lola Travis was one of the wealthiest single women in Inyo County in the 1870s. Known as "Diamond Tooth Lil," Evelyn Hildegard was a poor immigrant girl who became a western legend. Local author and historian Robin Flinchum chronicles the lives of these women and many others who were unafraid to live outside the bounds of polite society and risk everything for a better future in the forbidding Death Valley desert.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

146 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 2015

Reviews

[Dave]

A great set of old west stories. These tough women led fascinating lives and it's about time they were given the respect they deserve.

[Arthur Salyer]

Just a OK book for me. I really enjoy offbeat history and saw this book on a trip to death valley. An interesting set of stories about difficult challenges for women in the west. Most of the stories were sad of course. It would be interesting to anyone who is looking for a different angle on the old west although it is pretty short and limited

[L. Stephen Halpern]

Review of Book

It was somewhat interesting, gave some insite into life in the mi ong towns. Easy reading, apparently not much to do on those mining/railroad towns for entertainment, just women and drinking.

[JustMe]

DNF @ 8%

[Beverly Whitt]

This book was a pretty interesting read. I wish it was a little bit more organized, but it wasn't too bad otherwise.

[Melinda]

The book uses court records to flesh out the colorful stories of some of the women living in the mining towns in the desert.

[Laura Ellen]

Well written and researched, which is no easy task with Death Valley sources.