Buckhorn Exchange Explained

Buckhorn Exchange
Current-Owner:	Buckhorn Associates
Food-Type:	Steakhouse
Street-Address:	1000 Osage St.
County:	City and County of Denver
City:	Denver
State:	Colorado
Postcode:	80204
Country:	United States

Zeitz Buckhorn Exchange
Location:	1000 Osage St., Denver, Colorado --->
Coordinates:	39.7322°N -105.0161°W
Built:	1886
Added:	April 21, 1983
Area:	0.3acres
Refnum:	83001292

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.^{[1] [2]}

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 as the Zeitz Buckhorn Exchange.^[3]

History

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.^[4]

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".^[5] As of 2018, five presidents have dined at Buckhorn Exchange.^[6]

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.^[7]

Buckhorn's is currently owned by Bill Dutton.^[1]

Menu

Buckhorn Exchange is a steakhouse and is known for its Rocky Mountain oysters.^[8]

See also

• List of the oldest restaurants in the United States
• National Register of Historic Places
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Denver
• List of steakhouses

Notes and References

1. Web site: Iconic Buckhorn Exchange Steakhouse holds onto history amid building boom. Wist . Connor. 7NEWS. 2018-12-05. 8 December 2018.
2. Book: Clint Lanier. Derek Hembree. Bucket List Bars: Historic Saloons, Pubs, and Dives of America. 14 May 2013. Emerald Book Company. 978-1-937110-44-4. 232–.
3. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=83001292}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Zeitz Buckhorn Exchange / Buckhorn Exchange; 5DV1365 ]. National Park Service. Kathleen Snyder . July 28, 1982 . May 16, 2019. With
4. Book: Chuck Johnsons. Blanche Johnsons. Savor Denver and the Front Range Cookbook. 2004. Wilderness Adventures Press. 978-1-932098-09-9. 30–.
5. Web site: Rocky Mountain oysters are real – and delicious. Olmsted, Larry. USA TODAY. 2015-03-19. 8 December 2018.
6. Web site: The unique history of the Buckhorn Exchange. KUSA Staff. KUSA. 15 November 2016. 8 December 2018.
7. Web site: Top 10 oldest restaurants in America. The Daily Meal. Fox News. 2012-05-22. 8 December 2018.
8. Web site: Where to Eat Rocky Mountain Oysters, a Classic Denver Dish. Hughes, Ashley. Eater Denver. 2015-01-29. 8 December 2018.