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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:
Wedding Oak
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."
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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 |
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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.
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(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.
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View of the San
Saba Wedding Oak from the other side
Photo courtesy Judy
McBride, November 2005 |
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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.
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