Rinehart Stone House

The Rinehart Stone House, built in 1872, was the first permanent building in Malheur County. This rustic sandstone building was located on the Oregon Trail replacing an earlier log house built by Jonathan Keeney. The Stone House provided a wayside stop for weary travelers until the early 1900s. It was also a haven for settlers during the Bannock Paiute uprising of 1878 and served as Field Headquarters for General O.O. Howard. Today, the recently restored Stone House is a museum displaying period relics and photos, along with interpretative exhibits about the Oregon Trail. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the museum is conveniently located on Main Street South in downtown Vale. It is open to visitors from March 1 to October 30, Tuesday through Saturday, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Special tours arranged by appointment.