Basalt house built by pioneers on the Snake River Plain.

This house is near a dry creek on the Snake River Plain. It is built entirely out of basalt, many of the rocks have been carefully chosen and chiseled to fit snugly.

In 1862 the Homestead Act became a law, this act was designed to promote settlement of the vast American West by pioneers. It gave away 160 acres of land to the head of the household (including women and former slaves) as long as they would live on the land, build a home, and farm the land for 5 years. This house may be a remnant of that time, with the homesteader working with free materials that were readily available nearby.