Rattlesnake Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rattlesnake Station
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| Stagecoach | ||
Horse team on the Overland Trail
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| Location | northeast of Mountain Home, Idaho | |
| Coordinates | 43°11′53″N 115°33′17″W / 43.19806°N 115.55472°W | |
| Owned by | Ben Holladay | |
| Line(s) | Overland Stage Line | |
| Connections | Salt Lake City, Walla Walla | |
| History | ||
| Opened | 1864 | |
| Closed | 1914 | |
| Previous names | Mountain Home Post Office | |
| Services | ||
| U.S. Post Office, Passengers
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Rattlesnake Station was an important stop for stagecoaches a long time ago. It was located northeast of Mountain Home, Idaho. This station was also the first place where the Mountain Home post office was located. Today, you can find a special marker near U.S. Route 20 that shows where it used to be. The station was about 3,820 feet (1,164 m) above sea level, at the bottom of a hill. It was in what is now Elmore County.
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History of Rattlesnake Station
Rattlesnake Station was built in 1864. A man named Ben Holladay started it. It was a stop on his new Overland Stage Line. This stage line carried people and mail between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Walla Walla, Washington.
Stagecoach Travel
Stagecoaches were like buses of the past. They were pulled by horses and carried passengers and mail across long distances. Stations like Rattlesnake were vital. They provided fresh horses, food, and a place for travelers to rest.
Changes to the Stage Line
In 1870, the Northwestern Stage Company bought the Overland line. Rattlesnake Station became a stop for their weekly stage line. This line went from Boise to the South Boise mines. By 1875, it was even an overnight stop for travelers.
The Mountain Home Post Office
A post office named "Mountain Home" opened at Rattlesnake Station in 1876. This meant people could send and receive mail there. On October 12, 1878, a fire destroyed some buildings at the station. But they were quickly rebuilt. The station kept serving stagecoaches until 1914. After that, the stagecoach route was no longer used.
Moving the Post Office
The post office itself moved in 1883. It was dragged by mule teams about 8 miles (13 km) southwest. This new location is where the town of Mountain Home is today. The post office moved to be closer to the new Oregon Short Line Railroad. This railroad made it easier to transport mail and people.
