Just two doors down from their boarding house, the infamous actress and Countess of Landsfeldt, Lola Montez herself had set up housekeeping. Mary Ann became acquainted with her and soon little Lotta, who adored Lola, became her protégé and was allowed to play in her costumes and dance to her German music box.

moved again to Rabbit Creek (La Porte) forty miles to the north and once again set up a boarding house

Lola Montez wanted to take Lotta on a tour of Australia with her, but of course Mary Ann wouldn't see it.

traveling to all of the mining camps performing ballads and dancing for the miners

moved back to San Francisco where Lotta toured the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, added the banjo to her repertoire and became frequently in demand in the city's variety halls and amusement parks

1859 she had become "Miss Lotta, the San Francisco Favorite"

Considering all of the valuables they carried around, it is amazing they were never robbed

1864, they left for the East where Lotta toured and performed in New York, Chicago, Boston and the Midwest

greatest success in Little Nell and the Marchioness which was written for her by John Brougham from Dicken's Old Curiosity Shop

1869, she opened in Philadelphia in Heart's Ease

20 years, Lotta was highly popular on the American stage

1870, she then toured with her own company rather than using local stock companies, which was then customary

Mary Ann continued to manage Lotta's affairs, booking plays, locations and organizing troupes of actors

1884). When Mary Ann's steamer trunk became to heavy on their tours, she would invest Lotta's earnings in local real estate, bonds and other endeavors

1875, Lotta commissioned the famous "Lotta's Fountain" at Market and Kearney Streets in San Francisco

Mary Ann and her brothers where she studied French, visited museums and took up the hobby of painting which she pursued until her death

Although she has been linked with many gentleman, Lotta never married

If Lotta were to marry, it would surely have put a damper on her career of playing children and young parts, which she played until the end of her career.

Lotta retired from the theater in 1892 at the age of 45

Lotta had talent and she soon sought more singing and dancing lessons for her.

made her first professional appearance at a tavern owned by Matt Taylor.

She and her mother retreated to a summer cottage on Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey which she named "Attol Tryst" (Lotta spelled backwards) where she drove horses, threw parties and pursued her painting

her trademark black cigars prevented her from becoming a member of the prominent ladies social group, Sorosis, much to the disappointment of her mother

When Mary Ann died in 1905, Lotta became more reclusive.

final public appearance in 1915 for "Lotta Crabtree Day" in San Francisco at the Panama-Pacific Exposition, where the city turned out to remember their beloved Lotta

purchased the Brewster Hotel in Boston, where she lived until her death in 1924 at the age of 77.

buried next to her mother in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York City

bulk of her estate, estimated at $4,000,000 to veterans, aging actors and animals.

long court battle ensued over rightful heirs but her will was finally settled and a large trust remains for humane and educational purposes of the young.