Buckhorn Saloon and Museum

  During our early exploration of downtown San Antonio, we passed the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum. Two things grabbed our immediate attention; the outside sign claimed it to be the oldest saloon in Texas, and it said there were two museums in one. We love things and places that pique our interest, and this certainly did that. So, exploring it was a must.

  Albert Friedrich established the Buckhorn Saloon in 1881. Friedrich continued his father's hobby of collecting animal horns and antlers, then turning them into furniture. He would offer a free beer to anyone who brought in an antler. Not to be outdone, Friedrich's wife, Emile, started her own collection, rattles from rattlesnakes, and turned them into her unique art form. In addition to the horn and rattle collections are taxidermied animals from around the world. According to legend, Teddy Roosevelt supposedly recruited some of his Rough Riders here, as well as in the nearby Menger hotel. Many of the original furnishings are still here, including the back bar (at the time of its peak operation, the saloon was segregated).

  The Buckhorn also houses the Texas Ranger museum with artifacts from the origins of the Texas Rangers until today. The backroom bar is centered in an area known as "Ranger Town" ; a re-creation of San Antonio as it was in 1900. Located in the same area is a replica of the Bonnie and Clyde getaway car - a 1934 Ford V8 Deluxe ( the original is in the Ranger museum in Laramie). We spent two delightful days exploring both museums and its lunch cafe.

Street view of the entrance to the saloon/museums. One of the other things that grabbed our attention were the animal heads attached to the outside of the building.

View of the bar area and some of the animal heads on the wall.

"Buffalo Bob" greets everyone who enters and briefs them on the saloon and the museums.

Portrait of Albert Friedrich, founder of the Buckhorn.

Winchester model 1870 Caliber 50-95 rifle presented to Buffalo Bill Cody in England by Queen Victoria, while he was on tour in the 1880's.

India display of a tiger and cobra.

The Tree of Life - depicting all the animals of Thailand - carved from a single piece of Teakwood by Kon Prayet. It took him 18 months to complete this project.

Rattlesnakes are common in Texas.

Friedrich's wife, Emile, collected rattlesnake rattles to create her own unique art.

Entrance to the Texas Ranger Museum.

Chuck wagon circa 1900.

Newspaper office in "Texas Ranger Town."

The segregated backroom bar that any group other than Caucasian were forced to use in the early days of the saloon.

Replica of the 1934 Bonnie and Clyde car.