After a busy Saturday working at the Museum at the Brig, we drove to Walla Walla, Washington, to begin a 4 day circle tour.
WHITMAN MISSION NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
On Sunday morning we toured the Whitman Mission, one of the two major attractions in Walla Walla. We started our tour with a very well done 25 minute video in the Visitor's Center. The Whitmans, a missionary couple left their home in 1836 to travel the Oregon Trail, starting a Christian mission to convert the Cayuse Tribe. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman lived peacefully among the tribe for 11 years. Rising tension over cultural differences and finally a measles outbreak, resulted in the execution of 14 settlers, including the Whitmans. Ultimately the Cayuse Tribe lost 90 percent of their population due to measles and smallpox. Today the tribe is a part of the Nez Perce.
Visitor Center and Small Museum
Whitman Memorial and Burial Site
FORT WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON
The Fort Walla Walla Museum has an assortment of displays covering early pioneer life, farming, Lewis and Clark's Corp of Discovery, military history as well as Native American artifacts.
The Museum has 17 buildings and a pioneer village.
This full size 33 mule drawn state-of-the-art 1890 Combine was quite impressive.
Territorial Prison Display
PENDLETON, OREGON
In the northeast corner of Oregon, Pendleton's historic downtown has a glass-enclosed clockworks of the restored 1889 Seth Thomas Clock Tower.
PENDLETON WOOLEN MILLS
Pendleton is home to the Pendleton Woolen Mills, famous for producing high quality woolen goods and blankets since 1909. During the summer, factory tours are 4 times a day. We joined the 11 am tour.
The Factory Store
Spools of Wool Thread
Blanket Loom
Close up of the Loom
BLUE MOUNTAIN SCENIC BYWAY & THE SUMPTER GOLD DREDGE
We took a 70 mile paved scenic byway through the Blue Mountains from Ukiah to Baker City, Oregon.
Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge is located in the Blue Mountains, operated from 1935 through 1954. It mined more than $4,000,000 worth of gold, which just about covered the operation cost. The dredge path left hundreds of acres of disturbed land, mercury pollution, and rock tailings behind. Gold fever at its finest!
The dredge floated in 9 feet of water. It could go anywhere by taking its pond with it. As it dredged up rock and dirt, the pond filled its path. This looked to us like an EPA nightmare. This self guided tour state park site was similar to the one we toured at the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge in Idaho in 2015.
BAKER CITY, OREGON & NATIONAL HISTORIC OREGON TRAIL INTERPRETIVE CENTER
Baker City US Bank displays the 80.4 ounce Armstrong Gold Nugget
Located on Flagstaff Hill, just east of Baker City
US Bureau of Land Management Oregon Trail Interpretive Center was a modern museum and very well done.
The full size displays of pioneer life on the Oregon Trail, gives you a sense of being there.
Of the 2170 mile long Oregon Trail, only 300 scattered miles of wagon ruts remain.
HELLS CANYON/SNAKE RIVER VALLEY
Leaving Baker City and driving north we followed a scenic byway through the Wallowa Mountains to Joseph, Oregon, then on to Lewiston, Idaho. Part this drive follows the Snake River and the rim of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.
Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Overlook
Canola in bloom in the Palouse
View from our hotel balcony. Sunset over the confluence of the Snake River and the Clearwater River in Lewiston, Idaho.
