Robertson, Col. Elijah Sterling Clack, Plantation
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Why it's listed
This plantation complex lies about a quarter mile southwest of the center of Salado, Texas, west of Interstate 35. Colonel E.S.C. Robertson, an early Texas pioneer and founder of Salado and Salado College, built it around 1852-56. The main house is a two-story frame Greek Revival building of cypress, with a five-bay facade, a central projecting pedimented portico, projecting pedimented end pavilions, six-over-six double-hung windows, and double doors with transom and sidelights. A single-story stone kitchen, dining and laundry building was attached to the house in an 1880s addition. A single-story stone servants' quarters, a stone and wood-frame barn, and a family cemetery complete the group. The nominated area covers about 4.3 acres including the house, servants' quarters and barn. It was recognized as perhaps the best remaining example of a Texas plantation complex and as an outstanding Greek Revival work with rare Palladian influence. It remained a residence and was in good condition when recorded.
Significance in brief: The inventory describes it as perhaps the best surviving example of a Texas plantation complex. It was built by an early Texas pioneer who founded Salado and Salado College. It is also an outstanding example of Greek Revival architecture showing rare Palladian influence.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83003084, listed April 5, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | I-35, Salado |
|---|---|
| County | Bell County |
| Listed | April 5, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003084 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Col. E.S.C. Robertson |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Education, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is listed as good. Present use is residence, and the original site is unmoved. A kitchen was attached to the house in an 1880s addition. |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 30.94380, -97.54293 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83003084.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q22073186
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.