Mission
To unite the citizens and visitors of Saluda to acquire and preserve the historic Saluda train depot for future generations and to develop it into and operate it as a heritage museum and visitors center, emphasizing the railroad history and the Saluda Grade.
Vision
To create and sustain a landmark tourist destination at the historic Saluda train depot that reaches a broad audience that preserves and promotes Saluda’s heritage, celebrates its culture, and showcases its natural resources.
Objectives
The SHD objectives are:
Through a capital campaign, spearheaded by the Saluda Historic Depot, funds will be raised to purchase and preserve the historic Saluda depot, engaging Saluda's citizens, both full-time and part-time, and visitors to donate to the campaign.
Through a collaborative process with the Historic Saluda Committee, will create and develop a sustainable historical museum, with the Saluda Business Association will create a visitors center, and will work in tandem with the goals of the Saluda Downtown Foundation.
Through this collaborative process, will develop a marketing and promotional plan to draw tourists to Saluda using the depot and the appeal of the train history as a primary focus.
To contribute to economic development in Saluda benefiting businesses and contributing to the city’s tax revenue from more retail sales.
To become an educational resource for Saluda School and the Polk and Henderson County school systems by assisting in the development of materials to compliment the educational curriculum as it relates to the history of the railroad, depot and Saluda.
Develop a staffing plan using volunteers in the community and creating ownership to the museum.
Open the professionally designed Saluda history museum to the public and become operational and sustainable.