The Salt Palace of Grand Saline (the only building in North America made of salt) The Salt Palace is located at the intersection of US 80 and State Hwy 110/FM Rd. 17 in downtown Grand Saline 100 West Garland Ave. Grand Saline, TX 75140-1802 903-962-5631 Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Closed Sunday and Monday, and each day during the noon hour) In the center of Grand Saline, Texas sits the only building in North America made of pure rock salt. Why build a building out of salt? Because Grand Saline is home of one of the largest, purest salt domes in the nation with a supply estimated to last twenty thousand years! Grand Saline is the Texas home of Morton Salt Company. Many visitors cannot resist a taste...just to prove the building material is truly salt.
The original Salt Palace was built in 1936 as part of the State of Texas Centennial Celebration. The solid salt structure was patterned after the Alamo and used as a tourist center for the town. It deteriorated and was eventually torn down.
In 1975 a group of citizens decided to initiate the annual Salt Festival, held the second weekend of June, and as a centerpiece, the Salt Palace was rebuilt at the present location. Built of solid salt rocks donated by Morton Salt, a salt mortar mixture was used to replicate the original salt house.
In 1993, the tiny salt building was melting away and was replaced by the present building. Changes were made in the design which included an overhanging roof to help protect the salt exterior from weather.
Displays inside the Salt Palace include salt mining memorabilia and photographs. A video tape filmed in the Morton Salt mine shows mining operations at 750 feet underground. Morton Salt does not allow tours in the mine.
Historical photographs and personal belongs give visitors a glimpse of turn of the century life in the community.
Note: This is truly a remarkable building. And it really is made of salt!
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This page last updated 10 June 2007
Van Zandt County Genealogical Society Website maintained by
Sibyl Creasey
