Rock Creek was an important stagecoach stop on the Overland Mail & Stage Company's historic line along the Simpson Route between Salt Lake City and Genoa, Nevada, which was operated by John Butterfield's (1861-1866) and Wells, Fargo & Company (1866-69). Fresh horses, blacksmith services, and wagon-repair facilities were available here.

The Pony Express constructed the Cold Springs station in 1860 on the sagebrush bench eastward across the highway.

To the north are the ruins of a telegraph repeater and maintenance station which serviced this segment of the transcontinental Line, which was completed between Sacramento and Omaha in 1861. The line was abandoned in August 1869. The coming of the transcontinental railroad and its parallel telegraph line along the Humboldt River to the north spelled the demise of both the telegraph line and the stage route here.

State Historical Marker No. 83
State Historic Preservation Office
Austin Chamber of Commerce