Walla Walla's Diverse Heritage

Frenchtown Historic Site                                                         © Diane B. Reed

The Walla Walla Valley's diverse heritage is, at first, not that apparent. Yet from its earliest history a succession of peoples have made the valley home. When the first explorers came here they found the Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes enjoying the abundance of the valley. The first cabin was built in "Frenchtown" (west of Walla Walla) around 1823-24. The rich history of that area is commemorated at the newly-opened Frenchtown Historic Site on old Route 12 west of the Whitman Mission.

Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla reflects the ethnic diversity of the area

© Diane B. Reed

Italians arrived in the early days of the town of Walla Walla and brought the sweet onions that are so famous. Pasquale Saturno is reputed to have made the first commercial wine in the valley in the 1870s. His original home was moved to the Fort Walla Walla Museum grounds.

The diversity of our area — English, Irish, Scots, Chinese, Japanese, Germans, Irish, Russians, and many more — is evident in Mountain View Cemetery. The cemetery, established in 1853, features tree-lined avenues lined with fascinating monuments and headstones. Some are simple, others elaborate. There are sections devoted to ethnic groups, fraternal organizations, and military burials.

Chinese section, Mountain View Cemetery                                  © Diane B. Reed

To learn more about the history of the area, visit the museums and sites mentioned above. To learn more about the Native American tribes that called the valley home, visit the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute. It's located west of Pendleton, Oregon.

Courses on Walla Walla history have been offered through the Quest program at Walla Walla Community College. There are several being offered, one beginning in April on Walla Walla architecture, and one in May on Walla Walla history.

Lions Park, College Place WA

Garrison Creek, Lions Park, College Place WA                       © Diane B. Reed

Spring is waiting in the wings and our backyard, Lions Park, is beginning to bustle with activity. The baseball field has come out of hibernation and is frequented by eager young players. Impromptu soccer games and frisbee matches materialize as soon as the sun appears. A few kids are already trying their luck at angling, and the playground is busy. The park is a wonderful resource for young and old alike.

Garrison Creek                                   © Diane B. Reed

Garrison Creek wends its way from Fort Walla Walla Park along a natural area, flows into the pond in Lions Park, and continues on its way toward the Walla Walla River. The creek provides a wildlife corridor that attracts birds and animals to its hidden recesses.

"Double Swirl" by Andrew Carson                   © Diane B. Reed

This little gem of a park combines nature, fishing (for kids under 14), birdwatching, sports fields, a playground, and art. A kinetic sculpture titled "Double Swirl" by Andrew Carson which was given to the city for the park several years ago fascinates young and old alike as it moves in the breezes.

A nice backyard, indeed.

Rhapsody on a Map

Wallula Gap                                                                       © Diane B. Reed

My latest Walla Walla Ponderings column appears in the March issue of Walla Walla Lifestyles, "Rhapsody on a Map" (page 13).

The Twin Sisters at Wallula                          © Diane B. Reed

The western part of Walla Walla County is often overlooked, although it comprises half of Wallula Gap's spectacular scenery and includes the landmark Twin Sisters ).  Take the trail from the parking area on Route 730. The trail takes you to the scabland above the landmarks. As you look back toward the Columbia River, you can see how the landscape was scoured by the Ice Age floods. A word of caution, please stay in the park, do not trespass on the adjoining private property.

Touchet Beds               © Diane B. Reed

Another aspect of the Ice Age floods that can be seen in the Walla Walla Valley are "Touchet beds" which clearly show the layers of sediment deposited by the forty or so floods that washed into the valley and left their mark. There are a number of places where these Touchet beds are clearly evident, particularly in some highway cuts and canyons.

You can learn more about our area's geology by visiting the Whitman College geology department's local geology page.