Kegley Lecture: "Sex, Liquor, and Lawlessness in Early Roanoke" with Phillip Andrew Gibbs

Step into the rough-and-tumble beginnings of Roanoke at our final Kegley Lecture before the summer break, featuring author Phillip Andrew Gibbs. In his new book, "Sex, Liquor, and Lawlessness in Early Roanoke," Gibbs explores the city’s rapid growth in the late 19th century, when opportunity drew workers and investors while also attracting gamblers, bootleggers, and a thriving underground economy.

By the early 1900s, Roanoke had developed a reputation for brothels, saloons, gambling halls, and widespread lawlessness. Even efforts to reform the city, particularly during Prohibition, struggled to overcome its entrenched vice culture. Drawing on vivid stories and historical records, this lecture brings to life the people, places, and conflicts that shaped Roanoke’s wild reputation and the efforts to change it.

Join us on Tuesday, May 12 at 7:00pm at Christ Lutheran Church for this fascinating look into a lesser-known chapter of local history. Admission is $5.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase in the museum gift shop beginning April 14.

Don’t miss this engaging and revealing program, our last Kegley Lecture until the fall.