Some of these old saloons were barely standing, patched together with whatever materials were on hand, while others stood out with polished bars and rowdy piano tunes. But no matter the look, they all shared one thing: they were safe havens for men on the run and meeting grounds for those who lived by their own rules.
Here are 25 of the most memorable saloons where the West’s most notorious outlaws once drank, gambled, and carved their names into history.
1. The Cosmopolitan Saloon in Telluride, Colorado, 1910
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2. Two Brothers Saloon in Austin, Texas, early 1900s
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3. The Small Town Saloon in Oregon, early 1900s
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4. Getting a look at the goods at the Crystal Palace Saloon, Tombstone, Arizona
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5. The Table Bluff Saloon in Humboldt County, California, 1889
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6. The Anti-Saloon League of the 1910s
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I can’t tell if they were genuinely this stern or if they’re making goofy faces.
7. Cowboys grabbing a much-needed drink after a long day on the ranch, 1902
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8. The Sheriff and his Deputy at the Elkhorn Saloon, Lewistown, Montana, 1915
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9. Ranch hands in Tascosa, Texas, washing the dirt out of their throats
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10. The Bob Saloon in Miles City, Montana
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It isn’t safe to drink and horse. I hope they had a designated driver.
11. There’s nothing like bringing your horse into the saloon to meet your buddies, Castle Dale Saloon, Castle Dale, Utah, 1905
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12. This is where I’d be drinking if I lived in 1895, The Man At The Wheel Saloon
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13. The bartender and his regulars posing outside The Office Saloon, 1900
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14. This saloon in Thurber, Texas, doesn’t have much of a crowd, 1910
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15. Delivering new kegs to The Western Saloon in Chico, California, 1895
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16. Taking a break after a long day in the Rondre Saloon, Castronville, Texas, 1905
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17. This building was a joint courthouse and saloon, Langtry, Texas, 1904
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There’s nothing like beating a court case and heading straight to the saloon.
18. “My Great-Grandfather (far left), being the proprietor of his own saloon, 1908”
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19. They’ve got every booze you can think of here, 1910
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20. Note the child-sized “beer,” 1890
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21. Standing room only at this Midwest Saloon, 1912
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22. The interior of the Long Branch Saloon in the Midwest, 1880s
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23. Hopefully, this game of pool didn’t start any shootouts, Thorton-Curry Saloon, New Mexico, 1890
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24. Outside the Bottle House Saloon in Rhyolite, Death Valley, California
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25. This Saloon is called the Bucket of Blood Saloon in Nevada
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That isn’t exactly the most inviting name for a saloon.