The founders of the Salina Town Company were William A. Phillips, Alexander M. Campbell, Alexander C. Spilman, James Muir, and David Phillips. Their motto for Salina was "Religion first, Education second, Business third." The original town, founded in 1858, contained 320 acres, with boundaries from North to South and Front to Ninth Streets. By 1902, this block included the Grand Central Hotel, Opera House, and UCT Convention Hall.