In praise of the storied Gold Rush saloons of America’s West

Once the heart of America’s Gold Rush frontier towns, only a handful of genuine saloons are left standing. During a road trip across the States, Shoshi Parks finds much more than just beer and liquor inside them—she finds a window to the country’s past. Captivated by the gold and silver that seemed to be positively dripping from the mountains of California, Colorado, Alaska and other rugged mountainous territories far west of the Mississippi, thousands upon thousands of people showed up from all over the world. Almost overnight, small mining camps swelled into slapdash towns where prospective miners could purchase gear, a hot meal and, of course, liquor.

The Silver Dollar Saloon: Leadville, Colorado

Opened sometime before 1879, around the time mining fever took hold of this mountainous region of Colorado, the saloon is famous in certain circles of liquor-loving history buffs. The Silver Dollar Saloon in Leadville, Colorado, has been serving fortune-hunters and recreational beer-guzzlers since 1879. Back in the day, it had its fair share of famous visitors—‘Doc’ Holliday, the ‘Unsinkable Molly Brown’ and Oscar Wilde have all had a tipple here.

The Silver Dollar’s swinging doors, mahogany bar and windbreak—the entryway structure that prevented bad weather from entering while shielding patrons from prying eyes—are all original. Diamond dust mirrors hung behind the bar made the journey from St. Louis, Missouri, by covered wagon and train car, from which two seats were removed to serve as booths in the cavernous, dimly-lit space. The walls are generously decorated in the paraphernalia of the past, all black-and-white photographs and antique artifacts.

The Red Onion Saloon: Skagway, Alaska

I still can’t resist the pull of a good Gold Rush saloon, such as the Red Onion Saloon in Skagway, Alaska. Construction on this saloon and brothel finished in 1898 in the middle of the rush for the Klondike’s riches. It was one of Skagway’s classier joints, and the building’s architectural details and original decor have been preserved—especially upstairs in the ‘cribs’, where the Red Onion’s ‘ladies of the night’ held court. Because of the ruthless and down-on-their-luck characters that frequented them, there’s a sort of sinister undercurrent to the Gold Rush saloon that the typical pub lacks.

Historical Data and Features

The following details highlight the heritage of these 19th-century establishments:

• The Silver Dollar Saloon (Leadville, CO): Opened before 1879. Featuring original swinging doors, a mahogany bar, and diamond dust mirrors from St. Louis.
• The Red Onion Saloon (Skagway, AK): Opened in 1898. Known as a jumping-off point for prospectors headed for the Klondike Gold Rush in the Canadian Yukon.
• Preservation: Both establishments offer a distinctly American drinking experience dating back to the mid-19th century through the use of original architectural details and black-and-white photographs.