The Wedding Oak in San Saba, Texas famous tree. (original) (raw)
San Saba Wedding Oak in June, 2017
Photo courtesy Frank Sheeman, 6-11-17
Also known as the wedding oak, the marriage oak or the matrimonial oak, the legend is that before the settlers arrived, that Indians stood under the tree to be wed and that the tradition was adopted by the settlers. It's a simple story. That's it. Indians and then settlers got married under it.
No ghosts, hangings or mysterious signs carved into the trunk. Just a wedding tree. Outside of San Saba. End of story.
Forum: "My parents grew up in San Saba and they always said it was also called the Council Oak, because the tribes would gather there for meetings. It became the wedding oak after settlers came to the area." - Ramona Alford, Jan 2, 2020
Historical Marker: A legendary Indian site, popular into the 1900s, Wedding Oak sheltered many marriage services. Three occurred in one day, Dec. 24, 1911.
**Directions:**From San Saba:
Turning north from in front of the San Saba High School, you follow 9th street for 1/4 mile. After turning left onto China Creek Road, proceed about a mile and you'll see the shade provided by the tree.
Photographer Gibson provided another tip:
"The Wedding Oak is right up (down) the road of the Beveridge Suspension Bridge near San Saba. If you've been to the bridge, you've passed under this tree."
Wedding Oak Images
Close up view of the San Saba Wedding Oak in June, 2017
Photo courtesy Frank Sheeman, 6-11-17
After being inspired to visit the tree (perhaps by the Kinsey's photo) photographer-at-large Barclay Gibson made the trip all the way from Carlsbad, New Mexico to photograph the tree.
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2004
Some people have confused this tree with the "Center of Texas Oak" near Mercury in nearby McCulloch County. But although they're both live oaks - they are indeed separate trees with separate stories. (They also happen to be about 40 miles apart.) People who wanted to get married stood under this one - and people (for whatever reason) who wanted to stand in the geographic center of Texas stood under the other one.
This might be a good opportunity to explain a basic difference between folklore and history. Historians would want to see documentation about Indian courtship rituals while folklorists would just say people got married here and leave it at that. If the real truth was known, we might be calling it the "Getting out of the Rain" oak - since that was another tradition shared by both Indian and settler.
(Our thanks to both The Kinseys and Mr. Gibson and if anyone else wants to send in a photo of the tree - we'd love to have one taken from the other side. - Editor)
Anyone wishing to share their wedding stories or information on Indian courtship and marriage, please contact us.
View of the San Saba Wedding Oak from the other side
Photo courtesy Judy McBride, November 2005
Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and new or vintage/historic photos, please contact us.