When Newton discovered Gravity, it was due to the apple that fell from above to the ground. But in this case, if the same Newton sat in the Oregon Vortex it would have been a mystery as to why the apple didn’t fall straight to the ground but in an inclined manner.
The house of mysteries is located in Gold Hill, Oregon. The attraction is the earliest documented mystery spot or gravitational hill in the United States. It’s a place where bubble levels, tape measures, yardsticks, balls that roll uphill, and plumb lines are used to demonstrate the phenomena. It’s a famous circular area that has been opened to the public since the 1930s. The House of Mystery was originally an assay office, which was later used for tool storage. It was built by the Old Grey Eagle Mining Company in 1904. But the history of the surrounding area, The Oregon Vortex, goes way back to the time of the Native Americans. The horses of the native Americans would not climb up the area nor enter it. The Native Americans then called the area the “Forbidden Ground”, and never came up there. It was the deserted cause of the unusual conditions until the 20th century when the people took an effort to make a scientific analysis of the disturbance.
John Litster a geologist, mining engineer, and physicist developed the area in the early 1920s and opened it to the public in 1930. He conducted thousands of experiments within the Vortex until his death in 1959.
The Oregon Vortex is a spherical field of force, half above the ground and half below the ground. The word “vortex” simply means a whirlpool of force, like a whirling mass of water, especially one in which a force of suction operates, such as a whirlpool or a whirling mass of air, especially one in the form of a visible column or spiral, such as a tornado.
The Phenomenon that gives The Oregon Vortex its name is very evident throughout the entire area. People don’t stand erect and gravity doesn’t seem to work right in this area. The posture of the people is inclined toward magnetic north. When two people of different heights stand together on a level platform. The person receding towards the magnetic south, appear taller. And when they approach the other side, coming towards magnetic north, they become shorter. This is contrary to the laws of perspective.
The scientific analysis of how the place is unusual than the rest of the world is written in a very descriptive form in the Notes and Data, written by John Litster. It also contains 35 pictures, diagrams, and illustrations along with other information relating specifically to The Oregon Vortex. Which is available to all visitors to see and read.
They also do the Copper Pipe and Magnet demonstration (also known as an Eddy Current Tube) that they started making. The set comes with a 10″ long, 1/2″ diameter copper pipe. The pipe is 99.99% pure copper to achieve the strongest effect. It comes with two very strong Grade N42 neodymium magnets. One is a 1/4″ cube and the other is a 5/16″ cylinder. When dropped down the copper pipe the magnets fall very slowly demonstrating eddy currents. A good name for researching this electromagnetic principle on the internet is ‘Lenz’s Law’.
The tour guides who work for the organisation also lets you spill water down a ledge and you can see how the water comes back up without going down which questions the entire gravity theory. You can also see how a broom stands upright and the house of Oregon is inclined and standing strong despite it leaning to one side.
The Oregon Vortex has also been featured in the ” Ripley’s Believe it or Not” and in “Unsolved Mysteries”. Its also considered in the “Seven Wonders of the US”.
The place defies all the laws which were proved by the scientists and the geologists of the past. Few people claim it to be a law of perspective and that the notes and data are unrelated and don’t give an answer to all their questions but on the contrary others claim it to be a wonder and how it’s a mystery to have a place like that exist. It’s all up to the eye of the traveller who visits the Oregon Vortex. It’s a recommended place to visit and will surely get you to question many things. The curio shop also has plenty to offer to bring back memories from the trip.
The Oregon Vortex is open 7 days a week, from March 1st to October 31st. Hours are 9 am to 4 pm (and until 5 pm during July, August, and September). Admission is $9.50 for adults. It is located just north of Gold Hill.
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