The Salado Historical Society is dedicated to researching and preserving the history of the area and of the families that helped build this community. Their mission is “To locate, educate, and preserve the history and the historical integrity of the Village of Salado.”
Welcome To Salado, Texas where history is still alive.
Early settlers who came to the Salado area found fertile land and abundant springs. It was here that residents built homes, churches, a school, and businesses, including gristmills, hotels, stores, and a distillery. It is to them we owe a debt of gratitude for their vision, hard work, spirit and fortitude in carving the village of Salado out of the limestone and flowing springs you see around us today.
Many people visiting Salado say they love its history and that this history is what makes the village unique. These people are right: Salado’s historic significance has been acknowledged by the State of Texas and others as follows:
- 41 Registered Texas Historic Landmarks and Subjects marked with a plaque or a medallion.
These include people, places, cemeteries, and mills. (Designated with RTHL)
- 7 National Registry of Historic Places marked with plaques. (Designated with NRHP).
Additionally, some of the RTHL are also NRHP.
- 14 Salado Historical Society Landmarks (Designated with SHSL)
- 4 Texas Historic Cemeteries.
- 8 Water-driven Grist Mills along 9 miles of Salado Creek.
Only 2 marked with an NRHP plaque are still standing. One site is marked as RTHL.
These many markers recognize pioneers and places of historic significance in Salado. They are described on this web site.
How We Got to Where We are today
This area first called Salado Springs was part of the westward movement that brought pioneers from eastern states to Texas. The appeal of large tracts of fertile land was a major attraction. However, Salado offered something else few communities did: a college. In October of 1859 Col. E. S. C. Robertson donated 100 acres of land to build a college of which 90 acres were sold for town lots. The town was founded directly as a result of the establishment of the Salado College. Salado prospered as an educational and agricultural center for many decades. At one time a series of eight flour and grist mills were built on Salado Creek. Many of the historic homes and sites of early Salado are still an important part of this thriving, historic, village that you can see during your visit to Salado.
