William and Mary Menger, German immigrants to San Antonio, established a brewery on the site of what would become the Menger Hotel in 1855. The Mengers reportedly were first to bring beer to San Antonio. They constructed a two-story, 50 room hotel on the site in 1858. The Menger Hotel has been a prominent establishment in downtown San Antonio since that time.

William Menger died in 1871, but his wife Mary and their son Louis continued to operate the hotel until they sold the building to its original contractor. Major J.H. Kampmann in 1881. The Kampmann family maintained ownership of the hotel until the 1940s. During that time, they made significant renovations – adding a new bar room in the style of an upscale English pub. It is here that Teddy Roosevelt supposedly recruited many of his fabled Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. Other notable guests included Ulysses S. Grant, Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman and, more recently, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

The Menger Hotel is a member of Historic Hotels of America.

Credits and Sources:

Williams, Docia Schulz. The History and Mystery of the Menger Hotel. Republic of Texas Press. Plano, TX. (2000)