Roosevelt strutted in in presidential style, asked Zietz to be his guide and hunting partner, and after dinner and drinks, the pair took off by train to hunt big game on Colorado's Western Slope. President Theodore Roosevelt was among early visitors when in 1905 his Presidential Express train pulled up in the Rio Grande yards.

After all, who ever heard of a railroad man stopping after downing only one beer? In return, Zietz handed each man a token good for free lunch and a beer. The Buckhorn Exchange Restaurant derives its name from the Rio Grande Railroad yards that were directly across Osage Street and the second-story Buckhorn Lodge that housed railroaders for the night.Įach Friday, the railroaders scrambled across Osage Street to exchange their paychecks for gold. Indian chiefs, roustabouts, gamblers and businessmen dropped in to imbibe and dine on the West's finest offerings, many still on the menu today. It drew cattlemen miners, silver barons and railroadmen who built the West. where the Buckhorn Exchange Restaurant keeps the spirit of the Old West alive.įrom the day it opened its doors in November 1893, the Buckhorn Exchange has chronicled the robust days of early Colorado. But the memories and legends from those early days linger today at 1000 Osage St. Zietz, Sitting Bull and Cody became lifelong friends and by the time Zietz died in July 1949, the last of Cody's famous scout band was gone. During those years, the great Indian leader, Chief Sitting Bull, dubbed Zietz 'Shorty Scout,' in reference to his diminutive stature.

'Buffalo Bill' Cody and by age 12 was a full-fledged member of his hard-riding, straight-shooting band of scouts. In 1875, at age 10, wide-eyed Zietz met Col. 'Shorty Scout' Zietz, one of the most colorful figures of the Old West. Main content starts here, tab to start navigating History of Denver's Oldest Restaurant The Buckhorn Exchange RestaurantĭENVER - Denver's most historic eating and drinking establishment was founded in 1893 by Henry H.

Every mans battle denver colorado