2 Museums, 1 Price

How It All Started

One of The Biggest Attractions in Downtown San Antonio, Texas

At the age of 17, Albert Friedrich, decided to open his own saloon. At the time he was a bartender and bellhop at San Antonio’s Southern Hotel on Main plaza - across the street. 130 years later, his decision resulted in one of the notable museums in San Antonio Riverwalk. 

During the first year of Prohibition, the Buckhorn made its first move to the corner of Houston and South Flores Streets. While many saloons weren’t able to serve alcohol, Friedrich shifted efforts to sell non-alcoholic drinks, lunches and created a variety store. The Buckhorn thrived and saw locals and tourists alike flood into the Saloon and Hall of Horns - a collection Friedrich

inadvertently started when he accepted horns and antlers in the form of payment for alcohol when the saloon first opened to cater to his customers. 

The ingenuity didn’t stop there - his wife Emilie accepted jars of rattlesnake rattles in exchange for drinks. Emilie used these to create art that are still on display for visitors today. 

The Buckhorn went on to be preserved as one of San Antonio’s most popular tourist attractions as the Lone Star Brewery of San Antonio purchased the Buckhorn in 1956 and built a facility to house the original bar and collection that now functions as their hospitality and sampling room. 

The recognition from the community didn’t stop there - in 1996 Stroh’s Brewing Company decided to divest itself to the historical collection. Mary Friedrich Rogers committed to further preserving an integral piece of San Antonio history and decided to buy the collection before moving to its new central downtown location where it enjoys 40,000 square feet of exhibit space and 8,000 square feet of convention and private event space.

The museum continued to grow again with an additional museum when The Texas Ranger Museum was added. Visitors can learn more about hundreds of authentic Texas Ranger artifacts including automatic handguns, shotguns, badges and more.