Some of these old saloons were barely standing, patched together with whatever materials were on hand, while others stood out with polished bars and rowdy piano tunes. But no matter the look, they all shared one thing: they were safe havens for men on the run and meeting grounds for those who lived by their own rules.
Here are 25 of the most memorable saloons where the West’s most notorious outlaws once drank, gambled, and carved their names into history.
1. The Cosmopolitan Saloon in Telluride, Colorado, 1910
2. Two Brothers Saloon in Austin, Texas, early 1900s
3. The Small Town Saloon in Oregon, early 1900s
4. Getting a look at the goods at the Crystal Palace Saloon, Tombstone, Arizona
5. The Table Bluff Saloon in Humboldt County, California, 1889
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6. The Anti-Saloon League of the 1910s
I can’t tell if they were genuinely this stern or if they’re making goofy faces.
7. Cowboys grabbing a much-needed drink after a long day on the ranch, 1902
8. The Sheriff and his Deputy at the Elkhorn Saloon, Lewistown, Montana, 1915
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9. Ranch hands in Tascosa, Texas, washing the dirt out of their throats
10. The Bob Saloon in Miles City, Montana
It isn’t safe to drink and horse. I hope they had a designated driver.
11. There’s nothing like bringing your horse into the saloon to meet your buddies, Castle Dale Saloon, Castle Dale, Utah, 1905
12. This is where I’d be drinking if I lived in 1895, The Man At The Wheel Saloon
13. The bartender and his regulars posing outside The Office Saloon, 1900
14. This saloon in Thurber, Texas, doesn’t have much of a crowd, 1910
15. Delivering new kegs to The Western Saloon in Chico, California, 1895
16. Taking a break after a long day in the Rondre Saloon, Castronville, Texas, 1905
17. This building was a joint courthouse and saloon, Langtry, Texas, 1904
There’s nothing like beating a court case and heading straight to the saloon.
18. “My Great-Grandfather (far left), being the proprietor of his own saloon, 1908”
19. They’ve got every booze you can think of here, 1910
20. Note the child-sized “beer,” 1890
21. Standing room only at this Midwest Saloon, 1912
22. The interior of the Long Branch Saloon in the Midwest, 1880s
23. Hopefully, this game of pool didn’t start any shootouts, Thorton-Curry Saloon, New Mexico, 1890
24. Outside the Bottle House Saloon in Rhyolite, Death Valley, California
25. This Saloon is called the Bucket of Blood Saloon in Nevada
That isn’t exactly the most inviting name for a saloon.
Want to see more content from the Wild West?
Check out 15 Firearms That Changed Wild West History, or take a look at 15 Colorized Portraits of Wild West Legends. Finally, if you want to see mysteries from the Wild West that haven’t been solved, check out 15 Wild West Mysteries Experts Haven’t Solved.
