Historic Bar and Tavern in Louisville

About the Space

This historical venue is one of Colorado's two oldest bars, the oldest ongoing tavern license in the state, and to the community, a priceless treasure steeped in memory and local lore. We are the last remaining saloon of the original thirteen that lined the 3-block strip of Front Street. We started brewing in 1859 and became the largest brewer in the state and up until it closed in 1969 one of the largest and the second oldest continuously operating brewery in the country. The brand and beer were resurrected in 2012 and moved back into its original brewery and location on the Auraria campus in 2015. THE BAR: The awesome, room dominating back bar was built in the 1880’s by the Brunswick Company, in Dubuque, Iowa. Cherrywood, Birch, and Flame mahogany make up this "Del Monte" model which was cut-to-fit constructed, without nails. Before finding its home in Louisville in 1904, the bar spent the best part of ten years in Leadville, Colorado. We wanted to bring the bar to Louisville from Leadville, by wagon, not an easy feat in the Rocky Mountains. Due to dangerous gases in the coal mines, the miners could not smoke so most chewed tobacco. The copper spit trough, once equipped with running water, still exists along the floor of the front bar and functioned as a stable, easy to hit, spittoon. THE SALOON: During its early days, the saloon had an icehouse operating and connected to the building. The original hand-crank elevator was used, until recent renovation, to bring ice, beer barrels and the occasional drunk to the basement. Miners assisted digging the tunnels only during the summer months. The grade of coal mined in Louisville being weak and brittle, mining for profit only took place in the winter months. What looks like bricked up tunnel entrances in the basement attest to the credibility of this rumor. Additionally, legend has it that we are the heart of the “red light district”, a brothel operating in the rear of the building. Railway hands were accommodated by the “full service” saloon, by repute, drawing business from the neighboring train stations. In addition, the tale is that the basement and its environs are still the home to a mischievous ghost named Samantha, a harlot who was stabbed to death by one of her less than satisfied customers. Historically, Louisville was the only "wet town" in Boulder County.until 1969, Notorious for its drinking, gambling, and illegal activities, evidence of the occasional misunderstanding is the .22 caliber bullet hole in the lower right corner of the front bar. During prohibition in the 20’s, windows were covered up to hide illicit activity, two skylights were installed to bring in light. The main bar skylight was replaced with the chandelier that currently hangs there, installed during ours recent renovations. This building was designated historic and landmarked in 2014 by the City of Louisville. As a result, the exterior has been renovated and restored back to it’s original 1904 design. In the interior, original material and artifacts have been repurposed and incorporated into the tabletops, upper dinning room ceiling, hostess stand and where ever else deemed practical. The partition walls, ceilings, floors and fixtures all have a story.