The Dead Indian Soda Springs are an assortment of small mineral springs that feed into Dead Indian Creek near

Eagle Point, Oregon Eagle Point is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, Jackson County, Oregon, United States. The population was 8,469 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, up from 4,798 at the 2000 census. As of 2018, the estimated population was 9,408. Histo ...

, United States. The springs are rich in

sodium carbonate Sodium carbonate, , (also known as washing soda, soda ash and soda crystals) is the inorganic compound with the formula Na2CO3 and its various hydrates. All forms are white, odourless, water-soluble salts that yield moderately alkaline solutions ...

, iron, magnesium, and

sodium hydroxide Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOH. It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations and hydroxide anions . Sodium hydroxide is a highly caustic base and alkali ...

. The springs are located approximately 35 miles (56 kilometers) east of Medford.

History

The Dead Indian Soda Springs were discovered by

European European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe ...

settlers A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established a permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. A settler who migrates to an area previously uninhabited or sparsely inhabited may be described as a pioneer. Settle ...

around 1871, when a man named John Tyrell stopped for a drink while chasing an elk. Within 20 years, the site became a popular camping site for Rogue Valley residents. Shortly after 1900, Charles Wiltkinson built a home and several rental cabins near the mouth of the creek, which are now part of Camp Latgawa. Men hired during the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

to work in the woods for the Civilian Conservation Corps built a fountain and rockwork path around one of the springs in 1935–1936, but they were gradually washed away during floods in 1955, 1964, and 1997. All that remains today are the trace ruins scattered about the site and a few stone steps that lead from the trail down into the creek. It is not known whether the springs were used by the Takelma Indians for medicinal purposes, but in the 1920s, Lou Bean bottled some of the springs and sold the water to Brown's Tavern, in Medford.

Shelter

On December 29, 2000, the Dead Indian Soda Springs Shelter was added to the National Register of Historic Places.National Register of Historic Places Listings January 26, 2001
/ref> The small shelter, located next to Little Butte Creek, contains four

oven upA double oven A ceramic oven An oven is a tool which is used to expose materials to a hot environment. Ovens contain a hollow chamber and provide a means of heating the chamber in a controlled way. In use since antiquity, they have been us ...

s, four

picnic table A picnic table (or picnic bench) is a table with benches (often attached), designed for working with and for outdoor dining. The term is often specifically associated with rectangular tables having an A-frame structure. Such tables may be referr ...

s, and an old

wash basin A sink is a bowl-shaped plumbing fixture for washing hands, dishwashing, and other purposes. Sinks have Tap (valve), a tap (faucet) that supply hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for faster rinsing. They also include ...

. Image:Dead Indian Soda Springs Shelter fire pits - Jacksonville Oregon.jpg, Four cooking ovens, some with grills. Image:Dead Indian Soda Springs Shelter sink - Jacksonville Oregon.jpg, An old wash-basin.

References

External links

Trail Guide at the US Forest Service
Springs of Oregon Civilian Conservation Corps in Oregon Eagle Point, Oregon Bodies of water of Jackson County, Oregon Tourist attractions in Jackson County, Oregon National Register of Historic Places in Jackson County, Oregon Natural features on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon {{Oregon-NRHP-stub