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Buckhorn Saloon & Museum (San Antonio) facts for kids
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| Established | 1881 |
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| Location | 318 E. Houston Street, San Antonio, Texas, US |
| Type | Wildlife exhibits Shooting gallery Texas Rangers exhibit |
| Founder | Albert Friedrich |
The Buckhorn Saloon & Museum is a cool place to visit in Downtown San Antonio, Texas, USA. It started as a private collection owned by Albert Friedrich. Over time, it became a popular spot for tourists because of its amazing and unique displays. Legend says that Theodore Roosevelt and his famous group, the Rough Riders, used to visit this place!
Contents
Who Started the Buckhorn Museum?
The Buckhorn Saloon & Museum began with the incredible collections of Albert Friedrich (1864–1928). He started gathering items in 1881. Albert's father was a very skilled cabinetmaker. He even made special furniture out of horns for famous people like Queen Victoria!
How the Buckhorn Began
Albert Friedrich eventually bought a saloon on Dolorosa Street. He decided to show off his growing collection right there in the saloon. We don't know the exact name or date of his very first saloon.
Around 1890–1895, Albert bought a huge deer head with seventy-eight points on its antlers. This amazing piece is still on display today! By 1896, he opened the first official Buckhorn Saloon. It was located at the corner of Soledad and West Houston streets.
Albert collected many items from his own hunting trips. He also got things from other hunters and trappers. He even bought the collection of a famous hunter named Capt. Ernest Dosch. In the early days, Albert would trade a free drink for anyone who brought in a cool set of animal horns. This is how his collection became known as the Buckhorn Hall of Horns. Later, he added firearms and a fancy mirrored bar.
It's said that Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders often visited the saloon. This was when the Rough Riders were stationed in San Antonio.
Moving to the Lone Star Brewery
When a law called Prohibition started, Albert Friedrich could no longer sell alcohol. So, in 1922, he moved his business. He renamed it Albert's Curio Store, and later the Buckhorn Curio Store and Cafe.
In 1956, the Buckhorn Saloon and its Hall of Horns collection found a new home. They were moved to the Old Lone Star Brewery. The collection kept growing! In 1964, a Hall of Fins was added, showing off fish. Then, in 1973, a Hall of Feathers joined the displays.
What You Can See at the Museum Today
When the Lone Star Brewing Company got new owners in 1977, the Buckhorn collection was sold. But don't worry! Albert Friedrich's granddaughter, Mary Friedrich Rogers, and her husband, Wallace Rogers, bought the collection in 1997. They moved it to its current spot at 318 E. Houston Street. Now, it's managed by Twisthorn Holdings and the Buckhorn Museum and Saloon Limited.
The Buckhorn Museum
The Buckhorn Museum is filled with mounted wildlife from all over the world. You can see mammals, birds, and fish. There are more than 520 different kinds of animals! These include fish from all seven seas and animals from every continent.
Some of the most exciting things to see include:
- A huge 78-point Brady Buck.
- A world-record 1,056-pound black marlin fish.
- A longhorn steer with horns that spread 8 feet wide!
- The first gorilla ever shown to the public in the United States.
The famous comedian Carol Burnett, who grew up in San Antonio, once said that the gorilla scared her when she was a child!
The Texas Ranger Museum
The Texas Ranger Museum has real items from the Texas Ranger Division. You can see old handguns, shotguns, badges, and photos. The museum also has Ranger Town. This is a recreated San Antonio street from the early 1900s. It includes a copy of the old Buckhorn Saloon and a jail cell. You can also see a blacksmith shop. Plus, there's a replica of the 1934 Ford V8 Deluxe. This was the famous getaway car used by Bonnie & Clyde! It's important to know that this museum is not connected to the official Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco.
Other Cool Displays
Besides the amazing horn collection, you'll find unique art made from rattlesnakes. There are also items celebrating Native American and cowboy cultures. Some fun exhibits include the "Carnival of Curiosities" and the "American Sideshow."
Hall of Texas History Wax Museum
The Hall of Texas History Wax Museum is another part of the Buckhorn. It shows important moments from Texas history using wax figures.
Images for kids
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Museum entrance
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Postcard, circa 1904–1918
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Flag Commemorating Bicentennial of the Texas Rangers hang in Texas Ranger Museum
See also
- List of museums in Central Texas
- San Antonio Sporting District