The Rex Hotel was constructed in 1910, built by Alfred Heimer, who cooked for Buffalo Bill Cody at his Wild West Show.

Initially, Heimer’s dining room fare offered “cold beer and good German lunches.”

The Rex became a meeting place for colorful Western characters, including Buffalo Bill, Calamity Jane and Will James. A third floor was added in 1917.

During Prohibition days, the bar didn’t disappear, it just moved from room to room.