True West Magazine
Diners at Buckhorn Exchange in Denver enjoy great choices of steaks and game while dining under the gaze of the restaurant’s famous 500-piece big-game trophy collection. The historic restaurant, a favorite of President Theodore Roosevelt, is also home to a 125-piece gun collection.
– Courtesy Buckhorn Exchange –
Historic restaurants and saloons keep the spirit of the West alive, and some offer a mean steak. Denver, Colorado, is home to the famous Buckhorn Exchange Saloon that was started by Henry “Shorty Scout” Zietz. According to Zietz himself, “Sitting Bull always called me ‘Shorty-my-boy. He took a liking to me after he saw me shoot.” The man and his saloon have a colorful history that began with Henry and his mother, “Lottie,” running a saloon at 2762 Market Street from 1888 to 1893. This also served as the Zietz family residence and home of the original German-imported backbar that still stands in the Buckhorn today.