Culture & history Guided tours Tours Seasonal & Holiday Activities Neighborhood tours Wheelchair accessible Educational activities

Explore Old Toronto's hidden history of prostitution on a walking tour of brothel sites from the 1800s-- and how Toronto's workers and madams celebrated the holidays.

Highlights

• Follow a history professor guide on a limited-edition tour of hidden brothels
• Listen to scandalous true stories not included in 'official' histories
• Find out why sex workers and madams were considered essential workers
• Discover the clients and the scandals that made Old Toronto infamous
• Learn about secret brothel codes, architecture, and the history of fashion

Description

18+ Did brothel workers help build the city of Toronto in the 1800s? This tour reveals the lost secrets of Old Toronto, led by a university professor and PhD candidates who uncovered this hidden chapter in the city's history. Based on a decade of archival research that uncovered the locations of 100 brothels in 1800s Toronto, you'll learn the insider codes from the city's prostitution economy. Where were the brothe|s? How did clients find them? How did workers deal with pregnancies and what was it like to work in a brothel in the 1800s? Learn about the women who worked here, how they survived their jobs, and how sex workers changed the history of the City of Toronto. Artifacts, photographs, rare stories, and building secrets contribute to this memorable experience. This tour lasts 90 minutes - 2 hours and honours the historical workers whose stories our town founders hoped would stay hidden forever.

Includes

Guide Walking tour

Important Information

• The tour operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately Please be advised that this tour discusses sexuality and historical realities that included disease, assault, and violence The tour is not recommended for children due to mature themes Photography is permitted, but audio and video recordings are not allowed

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund