What Were Wild West Saloons Really Like?
Saloons often began as nothing more than a piece of canvas spread across a wooden frame, essentially a tent under which men could drink, talk, and gamble. As saloons became more permanent structures, they may have featured wooden floors and housed elaborate bars, but most still remained quite small with rustic decor and ambiance.
Saloons in major cities like San Francisco and Seattle may have had chandeliers and mirrors, the likes of which are common in Hollywood's version of the Wild West, but most were much more austere.
Location played a big factor in what types of decorations one might find in a saloon. Building materials came from what was available nearby. A saloon in a prairie town might have sod walls adorned with spurs and saddles, while a saloon in the mountains was characterized by woodworking with animal bones, hides, and heads mounted throughout.
The variability in saloon presentation could be striking. In Fort Worth, TX, the First and Last Chance Saloon, opened during the 1850s, was nothing more than "a small, dingy room with a few shelves... a plain bar counter on one side... a bench for customers on the other, and a box stove in the center of the room."
On the other hand, by the 1880s, the White Elephant Saloon in Fort Worth was a two-story establishment that served "fresh fish, oysters, and wild game" alongside the "choice wines, liquors, and cigars."
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