Horse Heaven, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Horse Heaven, Oregon
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 Horse Heaven, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Horse Heaven, Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Jefferson |
| Named for | Herds of grazing horses |
| Elevation | 3,150 ft (960 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Coordinates and elevation from United States Geological Survey | |
Horse Heaven is a ghost town in Jefferson County, Oregon. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now almost no one does. It's like a town that has been left behind. Horse Heaven once had a post office, but it closed many years ago. It is about 46 miles (74 km) east of Madras.
Why the Name Horse Heaven?
The name "Horse Heaven" comes from a simple reason. Long ago, many wild horses lived in this area. They loved the local grasses and drank from the natural springs. It was like a perfect "heaven" for horses!
The first postmaster, Mary E. Finnall, received mail for the town twice a week. Later, in 1946, the post office closed. Most of the families who had settled there had already moved away. Even today, nearby Horse Heaven Mountain and Horse Heaven Creek are named after this settlement.
Mining for Mercury
In 1933, two men found a special rock called cinnabar here. Cinnabar is an ore, which means it's a rock that contains a valuable metal – in this case, mercury. Mining for mercury started in 1934.
The Horse Heaven Mine
Two years later, a company called Horse Heaven Mines took over the mining. They kept mining until 1944. Sadly, a big fire destroyed their furnace and other buildings. The mine closed in 1945.
However, the mine opened again in 1955 with new equipment. But much of the mine tunnels collapsed between 1955 and 1958. Because of this, the mine closed for good in 1958.
What Remains Today
The old Horse Heaven Mine site covers about 40 acres (16 hectares). You can still find a seasonal cabin and some old buildings from the mining days nearby. Most of the mining machines are gone. In 2005, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality suggested cleaning up the area because of some materials left from the mining.
