The Buckhorn Exchange is a historic landmark restaurant and American frontier museum located in Lincoln Park, Denver, Colorado. The restaurant opened in 1893 and is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Denver.[2][3]

Buckhorn Exchange
Restaurant exterior
Map
Restaurant information
EstablishedNovember 17, 1893; 131 years ago (1893-11-17)
Owner(s)Buckhorn Associates
Food typeSteakhouse
Street address1000 Osage St.
CityDenver
CountyCity and County of Denver
StateColorado
Postal/ZIP Code80204
CountryUnited States
Websitewww.buckhorn.com
Zeitz Buckhorn Exchange
Buckhorn Exchange is located in Colorado
Buckhorn Exchange
Coordinates39°43′56″N 105°00′58″W / 39.73222°N 105.01611°W / 39.73222; -105.01611
Area0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
Built1886
NRHP reference No.83001292[1]
Added to NRHPApril 21, 1983

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 as the Zeitz Buckhorn Exchange.[1][4]

History

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Plaque outside of Buckhorn Exchange

Buckhorn Exchange was established on November 17, 1893, as a saloon called "The Rio Grande Exchange" by American scout, Henry H. "Shorty Scout" Zietz. Around 1886, the building was constructed by Neef Brothers Brewing Company. Zietz was friends with Buffalo Bill and Sitting Bull who called him "Shorty Scout" due to his small physique. Zietz was considered a lifelong friend to the Indians. The saloon catered toward railroaders, cattlemen, miners, gamblers, businessmen and Indian chiefs.[5]

Theodore Roosevelt dined at the restaurant in 1905 after his Presidential Express train arrived at the Rio Grande rail yards. Roosevelt and Zietz went big-game hunting on Colorado's western slope. The restaurant contains over "500 mounted animals and trophy heads of every description", including an "African Cape Buffalo shot by President Teddy Roosevelt".[6] As of 2018, five presidents have dined at Buckhorn Exchange.[7]

The Daily Meal on Fox News ranked Buckhorn Exchange as one of the oldest operating restaurants in the United States, stating the restaurant received the first liquor license in the state of Colorado.[8]

Buckhorn's is currently owned by Bill Dutton.[2]

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Buckhorn Exchange is a steakhouse and is known for its Rocky Mountain oysters.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Wist, Connor (December 5, 2018). "Iconic Buckhorn Exchange Steakhouse holds onto history amid building boom". 7NEWS. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  3. ^ Clint Lanier; Derek Hembree (May 14, 2013). Bucket List Bars: Historic Saloons, Pubs, and Dives of America. Emerald Book Company. pp. 232–. ISBN 978-1-937110-44-4.
  4. ^ Kathleen Snyder (July 28, 1982). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Zeitz Buckhorn Exchange / Buckhorn Exchange; 5DV1365". National Park Service. Retrieved May 16, 2019. With accompanying seven photos from 1982
  5. ^ Chuck Johnsons; Blanche Johnsons (2004). Savor Denver and the Front Range Cookbook. Wilderness Adventures Press. pp. 30–. ISBN 978-1-932098-09-9.
  6. ^ Olmsted, Larry (March 19, 2015). "Rocky Mountain oysters are real – and delicious". USA TODAY. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  7. ^ KUSA Staff (November 15, 2016). "The unique history of the Buckhorn Exchange". KUSA. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  8. ^ The Daily Meal (May 22, 2012). "Top 10 oldest restaurants in America". Fox News. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  9. ^ Hughes, Ashley (January 29, 2015). "Where to Eat Rocky Mountain Oysters, a Classic Denver Dish". Eater Denver. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
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