Salt Lake's sordid past

On 200 East between Main street and State street in Salt Lake City you can find an inconspicuous marker which reminds us of Commercial Street (now called Regent Street) and it's sordid past.

Police sanctioned prostitution openly took place here in the Mormon capital's own "red-light district." The only whores around now are to be found at Monk's which is located downstairs in the Walker Building, or perhaps among the staff of the D News. The street is now home to the Deseret Newspaper printing and distribution center...

The Sign reads:

Commercial Street, today called Regent Street, was Salt Lake City's red-light district from the 1870s to the late 1930s. Several Dozen buildings along Commercial Street housed legitimate businesses on the first floor and brothels or "cribs" for prostitutes on the upper floors. As in other American cities at the time, Salt Lake City's prostitutes operated with the tacit approved of local police. By 1908, each prostitute was required to register with the police and pay a monthly $10 "fine" which went into the city's general fund. The only remaining building from Commercial Street's red-light days is the Leader Cigar Factory Building located at the south end of the block.