KEY LOCATIONS OF INTEREST
Photo Credit: Kimberly Miner
Historic Downtown
Visit downtown Walla Walla and get a glimpse into its past. The turn-of-the-century architecture has been beautifully restored, turning Walla Walla's streetscape into a one-of-kind location that whispers of days gone by. Several small farm towns surround Walla Walla with 1920s and 1930s main streets and buildings.
Umatilla National Forest
Walla Walla is the gateway to the Umatilla National Forest. The 1.4 million acre forest is located in the Blue Mountains of Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon. Elevations range from 1,600 feet to 8,000 feet above sea level.
Fort Walla Walla Museum
Located on what was an 1857 military reservation, the museum showcases among other things:
- An entire pioneer village of 17 original and replica buildings, including a one-room school house and 1800s era railroad depot.
- Five large exhibit buildings on the site displaying heirlooms, tools and household items used by pioneers and settlers.
- A life-size, 33-mule team and wheat combine depicting early harvests in the Walla Walla Valley.
Other Museums and Historical Sites
The oldest standing Christian church in the state is located in nearby Dixie. Check out the old bank and Post Office building in Touchet, which was built in 1906 using stones quarried from the Walla Walla River. Take Highway 125 past the Washington State Penitentiary towards Prescott and you'll be following the old Mullan Road, which was the thoroughfare that helped Walla Walla County grow. The oldest working courthouse and high school in Washington State is located in Dayton, 30 miles away. The Whitman Mission massacre site is adjacent to Walla Walla where missionaries were killed by Cayuse Indians in 1847.
Vineyards and Wheatlands
The Valley has magnificent wine production facilities and vineyards. Walla Walla is part of the "Palouse" Country with rolling fields and historic homesteads.
College Town
Founded in 1882, Whitman College is the premier liberal arts college with a beautiful, facility-rich campus that is distinctively different from other college campuses across the nation. Walla Walla Community College was founded in 1967 and houses an array of more modern buildings, including culinary and viticulture facilities. Walla Walla University was founded in 1892 and offers a diverse mix of classic college locations.
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