Stone House

"After idling at a stop for a few minutes, the silence of the desert suddenly bites back. There is nothing out here, and I don't say this about a lot of places! Whatever Stonehouse was, or more importantly, wherever its marker might be now, would welcome back at any time. Not sure who to inquire on this." -- August 2009

[239]       

At the Exit 212 offramp from eastbound I-80, 20 miles west of Battle Mountain

Humboldt
  40.839958, -117.191604

Original Date Visited: 8/14/09
Revisited: 2/19/16
Signed: No

Marker History: In 2009, my completionist heart to conquer Humboldt County was felled quickly when I found this marker nowhere to be found. Later, I'd discovered that 239 had been missing for nearly a decade! Back home, I dove deep into investigating this case and after some pretty sweaty webbing, I came upon a handful of original photos of the marker, thus, confirming that I had been at the right location: at the Stonehouse interchange, 25 miles west of Battle Mountain. Ironically, the photos showed that the marker was in great shape, but still, left a void with absolutely no photos of my conquering.

Let's fast forward, nearly twenty years to 2015. Luckily our cries were heard and Marker 239 was replaced as one of the many re-vamped markers in celebration of "Battle Born, 150th: A State Sesquicentennial" (as evident by the campaign's logo on the plaque). If may have taken awhile, but representation of this obscure old station can finally be seen in this very bleak country in between Battle Mountain and Winnemucca. The weary traveler plying past the "Stonehouse" exit now has an excuse to stay awhile, then stand amidst the silence and reflect what has been preserved. If anything, Marker 239 gives you something to see on this long, uneventful stretch of the 80.

Street View

Here's what you'll see!

Exact Description:
This historic site takes its name from the stone house whose ruins can be seen to the northwest on Lone Tree Hill. Indians and passing emigrants once camped here and the house was erected in the 1860's by officials of the Overland Stage Company as a dining and overnight rest stop. The Central Pacific Railroad was constructed through this section of Humboldt County in 1868, and the nearby springs provided water for engines. A small community flourished here for a number of years to serve the needs of railroaders and neighboring ranchers and there was a Post Office which operated from November of 1890 to March of 1915.

Interstate 80 Roadtrip
 COVERED IN MY I-80 ROAD TRIP

Next Marker

CONEY ISLAND

Related Links & Markers:

 Stonehouse (Nevada Expeditions) 

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