Established in 1835 inside the Lahr Luxury Hotel, the Knickerbocker Saloon became the first place to allow patrons to legally drink in Hoosier territory. It’s name was changed from the Gault House Tavern to the Cherry Wood Bar in the 1850s and finally to the Knickerbocker Saloon in 1874. Our cherry and walnut bar that welcomes guests from all over the world can be traced to 1891. The Knickerbocker Saloon has seen conversation and libation from many notable guests from over the years. John Purdue, President Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain, Al Capone, and even Purdue’s own Neil Armstrong are among guests that have enjoyed the ambiance of Indiana’s oldest bar.