While beds and sleeping are often associated with home life, there are times when people sleep away from home. Shown below are some museum displays of beds associated with the military, hotels, and brothels.
Officers’ Quarters, Fort Steele Heritage Village, British Columbia
In 1887, North-West Mounted Police Superintendent Sam Steele established the Kootenay Post in British Columbia. A year after the police post had been established, it was abandoned as Steele did not feel that a continued NWMP presence was required. This post would later be known as Fort Steele.
The officers’ quarters were rich when compared to the quarters for constables and sergeants. Officers were paid more and had shipping privileges and special allowances.
Shown above is Inspector Woods’ bed.
Shown above is Superintendent Steele’s bed.
Shown above is Assistant Surgeon Frederick Hamilton Powell’s bed.
Fort Vancouver Counting House, Vancouver, Washington
Shown above is Captain Thomas Baillie’s bed.
Fort Vancouver Surgeon’s Quarters, Vancouver, Washington
Wells Hotel, Garnet Ghost Town, Montana
The mining town of Garnet was established in Montana’s Garnet Mountains in 1895. The J.K. Wells Hotel was built in 1897 and is the most impressive building in Garnet. Guests stayed in rooms on the second and thirds floors.
Old Montana Prison Museum, Deer Lodge, Montana
There are some people who refer to a prison as a kind of hotel, a kind of temporary lodging for people who often not from the upper-classes.
Dumas Brothel Museum, Butte, Montana
In 1890, French Canadian brothers Arthur and Joseph Nadeau built a house of prostitution in Butte, Montana. Designed specifically as a brothel, each room featured both a door and a window which allowed customers to window shop. The Dumas served as a brothel until 1982.
Museums 201
This series presents photo tours of similar exhibits from several museums. More from this series:
Museums 201: Ancient Beds (photo diary)
Museums 201: Modern beds (photo diary)
Museums 201: Quilts (photo diary)
Museums 201: Washing machines (photo diary)
Museums 201: Model railroad dioramas (photo diary)
Museums 201: Bicycles (photo diary)
Museums 201: Jails and prisons (photo diary)
Museums 201: Swords, knives, and other sharp things (photo diary)