$10 for Two Tickets to the Buckhorn Museum & Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum (Up to $36 Value)
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- Recreated Old West saloon
- Hundreds of wildlife species
- Located near Riverwalk & Alamo
Before the introduction of museums to the Old West, cowboys preserved local history the only way they knew how—by branding it onto the backsides of cattle rustlers. Today's Groupon opens a less painful path to knowledge: for $10, you get two tickets (up to a $36 value) to the Buckhorn Museum & Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum, located within walking distance of the Alamo and Riverwalk.
A proud purveyor of drinks and information since 1881, the Buckhorn Museum & Saloon gathers curious minds and wildlife exhibits inside a 129-year-old San Antonio staple. The saloon's founder, Albert Friedrich, originally accepted horns and antlers in lieu of payment for whiskey, acquiring the first pieces of a collection that now includes more than 520 species from all over the world. Each showroom is packed from the floor to the ceiling with land, sea, and airborne animals ranging from a prehistoric Irish elk skull and antlers to stuffed alligators to a 1,056-pound black marlin—which scientists believe to be the only unexaggerated fish a human being has ever caught. A wax museum showcases authentic pieces of Texas history, some donated and others unclaimed from the saloon's century-old lost-and-found box. After a long day of knowledge rustling, belly up to the saloon's bar—which is still equipped with many of its original furnishings, including a back bar hand-made of sumptuous marble and cherry wood—and knock back its famous prickly pear margarita.
Law lovers and order enthusiasts will prefer to wander the Texas Ranger Museum, which houses hundreds of authentic Ranger artifacts such as automatic handguns, badges, sawed-off shotguns, and photographs. Crime buffs will want to take copious notes throughout the museum's Bonnie and Clyde exhibit, which centers on the beloved bandit couple's recreated (and severely aerated) 1934 Ford V8 Deluxe. For people looking to experience the past without rewriting history and preventing Teddy Roosevelt from kissing their mother at the "Enchantment Under the Sea" dance, "Ranger Town" recreates San Antonio at the turn of the twentieth century with its own jail, saloon, and blacksmith shop.
Reviews
Yelpers give the Buckhorn Museum & Saloon a 3.5-star average and TripAdvisors give it a three-owl-eye average.
- There is nothing else on earth like this place. – cha cha v., Yelp
- The Buckhorn is a terrific family attraction. It is unlike any museum you have ever visited. The food is great. The service and friendly faces are refreshing. There is so much to do. – wellsworth, TripAdvisor
Need To Know Info
About Buckhorn Museum & Saloon
Explore the Wild Side of History – just 2 blocks from the Alamo and steps from the San Antonio River Walk. The Historic Buckhorn Saloon was established in 1881 and is “The Oldest Saloon in Texas!” For over 140 years, the Buckhorn has served travelers from across the country and around the world. Today, it is one of the most unexpectedly fascinating attractions, that will keep you talking well beyond your visit to San Antonio. Two Attractions, One Epic Adventure! The Buckhorn Saloon & Museum has always been known for its spectacular trophy mounts that boast one of the largest collections of taxidermy animals from all over the world. Over 520 different species of land and marine wildlife, both still in existence and extinct, many of which were collected from the original owner, Albert Friedrich, over 80 years ago. You’ll also experience the Carnival of Curiosities and the American Sideshow which looks at the early days of circus and carnival illusions and oddities. The Buckhorn Saloon has a rich history. It was known as one of President Teddy Roosevelt’s frequent spots to recruit for the Rough Riders. It is rumored, that the Buckhorn is the birthplace of the Mexican Revolution where Pancho Villa began his plans to start his revolt being the first saloon in Texas to allow women inside as patrons. Withstanding fires, floods, and even prohibition, the back bar is the original from the 1881 establishment. Today, the saloon is still a fully operational bar that prides itself on showcasing the best beers and spirits Texas and San Antonio have to offer. Feel free to roam the museum exhibits, drink in hand. The Texas Ranger Museum houses hundreds of artifacts, memorabilia, weaponry, and profiles of some of the most notable Rangers in Texas history. The museum is an immersive experience that takes you back to a simpler time when you stroll through “Ranger Town,” a recreation of San Antonio set in the 1880s. The Bonnie and Clyde exhibit takes you along for the ride through their rise and demise at the hands of Texas Rangers with a replica of the 1934 Ford V8 Deluxe “Death Car” riddled with bullet holes. This True Texas Experience is an adventure the whole family can enjoy. Along with the exhibits, take aim at the laser-sighted Shooting Gallery inside the game room, or reveal your inner self with our vintage carnival “tester” games. If you are looking for that delicious Texas flavor, try any item from the newly revamped café menu, now The Buckhorn Burger Company. And don’t forget to claim a piece of the West from the Curio Store which has a variety of unique gifts and souvenirs that will help you “Remember the Alamo,” and the time you visited The Buckhorn!