Update: 10 April 2020
In 1855 the pure water of San Pedro Springs enticed William and Mary Menger to purchase land next to the Alamo Mission and establish the first Brewery in Texas . Menger Beer soon became the
One of the five major acequias, dug by the Franciscan fathers in the seventeenth century, flowed through what is now the tropical garden of the hotel. It was this Alamo Madre ditch that cooled the cellars of the Menger Brewery
In 1887 the Menger Bar and a fourth story was added. Improvements and included the addition of an artesian well, steam laundry, electric lights and a steam elevator. The Menger Bar, a replica of the pub in the House of Lords in London, served chilled beer, mint juleps and hot rum toddies. The craftsmanship was admired by all of San Antonio
General Sam Houston stayed at the Menger shortly after the Hotel opened and signed the register as "Sam Houston and horse" General Robert E. Lee also stayed at the Menger several times prior to the Civil War.
In 1898 Teddy Roosevelt came to the Menger Hotel Bar with Colonel Leonard Wood to organize the first U.S. Volunteer Calvary, the "Rough Riders," which fought in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. In 1905 Teddy Roosevelt returned to the Menger Hotel for the first Rough Rider Reunion.
Several U.S. Presidents have stayed at the Menger Hotel.
What began as a 50 room hotel in 1859 now has 316 rooms and the public areas that remind you of a museum continues to be the oldest continuously operated hotel West of the Mississippi.
Update: 10 April 2020