Rocky Mountain Saloons

Their Economic, Social, and Physical Development

Since liquor was easily transportable and widely desired, saloons were one of the first businesses to arrive on the Rocky Mountain mining frontier. The earliest establishments were crude tents or haphazardly constructed shacks. Over time, saloon owners upgraded to more permanent facilities and added ornate decorations, expensive mirrors, and billiard tables imported from the East. In, The Saloon on the Rocky Mountain Mining Frontier, Elliott West stated, “The physical evolution and diversification of the drinking house . . . paralleled the growth of the mining town and its search for a kind of order and maturity” (West 27-28). Economically, a vibrant community provided the capital that allowed for a saloon owner to improve and expand his facility in order to stay ahead of the competition. Socially, early saloons were used for a variety of functions, including religious services, court hearings, meeting places, and prizefighting, before becoming primarily places of entertainment and relaxation. Consequently, the physical improvements of saloons mirrored the economic and social changes of their Rocky Mountain mining communities.