| 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 town. It deteriorated and was eventually torn down. In 1975 a group of citizens decided to initiated the annual Salt Festival, held the second weekend of June, and as a centerpiece, the Salt Palace was rebuilt at the present location of 100 West Garland Avenue. 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. What's inside the Salt Palace? 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 belongings give visitors a glimpse of turn-of-the-century life in the community. World famous aviator Wiley H. Post is remembered as a native son with newspaper articles, photographs, and a small wooden model of his famous plane the "Winnie Mae" in which he set two world records by being the first man to circle the globe in 1931 and 1933. Post is honored with a Texas state historical marker in front of the building. Visitors to the Salt Palace will receive a complimentary salt crystal and a small gift shop sells both Morton Salt Company and Texas souvenirs. Hours of Operation: The Salt Palace No Charge for Admission |