Day Trip: Walla Walla, Washington

Walla Walla is rich in regional history and thus a great place to visit for those who enjoy immersing themselves in Northwest regional history. Walla Walla is a perfect destination for a day trip for travelers who are within two hours, maybe two-and-a-half hours’ travel distance, which means the itinerary is ideal as a day trip from as far away as Yakima, Ellensburg, Spokane, and Tri-Cities, Washington, Lewiston and Moscow, Idaho, and Boardman, La Grande, and Baker, Oregon. As far as day trips go, this one is economically priced: $40 for two travelers plus lunch and gas. We suggest arriving at the Frenchtown Site by 9am to allow time to visit all sites on the itinerary.

Best time to visit: your visit can occur weekends, February through November, as only the Kirkman House Museum is closed for winter, though a visit to the Kirkman House website is a good idea to verify they are open.

Frenchtown Historic Site

The Frenchtown site lies within the homeland of the Walla Walla and Cayuse Tribes. The site is rich in local history, which begins to involve Europeans with the arrival of French Voyageurs—French Canadian fur traders who practiced their trade largely by canoe, who married into the local tribes and settled here beginning in 1823.

The Prince’s Cabin, built in 1837 only a few miles from the current site by the Hudson’s Bay Company and gifted to a Cayuse Indian known as The Prince, is believed to be the oldest cabin in Washington State. The cabin was moved to its current location and entirely restored.

In 1855, the Oregon Mounted Volunteers clashed with a force of Walla Walla, Cayuse, Palouse, and Yakama warriors in the four day Battle of Walla Walla; much of the fighting occurred here on the Frenchtown site.

Saint Rose of Lima cemetery was established here in 1876 and several burials were moved here from an earlier cemetery along the banks of the Walla Walla River. The last burial occurred in 1911. The wooden markers are long gone and are replaced by the monuments that now top the burial hill.

Interpretive panels are found scattered over the site: at the Prince’s Cabin, the day-use building, and the cemetery and overlook at the top of the hill. You can park at the day-use area and walk through the site to the top of the hill or you can drive past the cabin and park next the the overlook at the top of the hill. Plan on 45 minutes for your visit.

Here are details you will need, including the address to enter into your navigation app:

Frenchtown Historic Site, 8364 Old Highway 12, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Open: daily, dawn to dusk. Admission: Free.

Whitman Mission National Historic Site

Marcus and Narcissa Whitman left their New York home in 1836 to trek west to build a mission to do missionary work among the Cayuse. In 1840, 15 US emigrants entered the lands of weyiiletpu, or Cayuse lands. It wasn’t long before the Whitmans changed their focus to assisting emigrants coming west on the Oregon Trail, a branch of which went right past the mission’s split rail fence. In 1843 Marcus Whitman escorted 1000 more newcomers. In 1847, 4500 newcomers arrived and, tragically, they brought Measles to the Cayuse, with horrible effect. In a desperate need to defend what remained of their people, a small number of Cayuse warriors attacked the mission, killing the Whitmans and 11 other men.

A visit to the Whitman Mission is the lynchpin of our itinerary and not to be bypassed. A visit here inspires a sobering and sorrowful contemplation of tragedy. It isn’t necessary to come here and judge those involved so many years ago, but we can come and learn the history and try to understand what brought about such a tragic event. The museum is just the start of your visit: a one-mile paved path takes visitors to the site of the original mission and to the monument at the top of the hill; multiple interpretive panels educate the visitor about the site. Two miles of unpaved trails take you to more sites on the grounds. Pets are not allowed in the visitor center but are welcome on the grounds and must be on a leash; you must clean up after your pet. The museum includes a bookstore and a 25-minute film—don’t miss it! Plan on two to 2.5 hours for your visit, assuming you watch the movie and hike at least the paved paths.

Here are details you will need, including the address to enter into your navigation app:

Whitman Mission National Historic Site, 328 Whitman Mission Rd, Walla Walla, WA 99362, 509-522-6360. Open: daily 9-4; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Admission: Free.

Kirkman House Museum

The Kirkman House is a fine example of 1880s Italianate architectural design, built during a period of economic growth in Walla Walla. The Kirkman house, the home of William and Isabella Kirkman, was the first large house in Walla Walla constructed of brick.

Kirkman came to Boston from Bolton, England in the 1850s. He tried his hand in many careers that included gold prospecting in California, British Columbia, Australia, and Idaho. His investment in cattle finally led to financial success. Kirkman met Isabella Potts in San Francisco and they married in 1867. They came to Walla Walla shortly thereafter. In 1880 they moved into their new brick home; it was the home of three generations of Kirkmans before the family gave the home to Whitman College in 1919. In 1977 the home was purchased by the Historical Architecture Development Corporation who began extensive renovation efforts. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Here are details you will need, including the address to enter into your navigation app:

Kirkman House Museum, 214 N Colville St, Walla Walla, WA 99362, 509-529-4373. Open: Fri-Sun 10-2 (subject to change); closed for winter break December and January. Admission: Adult $10, 7-17 $5, 6 and under Free, military veterans Free. Free parking on Colville and Cherry streets. Plan on 45 minutes to one hour for your visit. Verify closure dates by visiting: https://www.kirkmanhousemuseum.org/copy-of-visit

Lunch

If you begin the itinerary early, you will have time for lunch before heading for the last stop on our itinerary. Here are a few local suggestions located in the downtown area and not far from Kirkman House Museum. Clarette’s Restaurant: old school American fare, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 15 S Touchet St. Open: daily 6-8. Walla Walla Bread Company: wood-fired pizza, steaks, artisan breads and pastries, breakfast and lunch. 201 E Main St. Open: Wed-Sun 8-3. AK’s Mercado: American diner fare, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 21 E Main St. Open: Sat 8-10, Sun 8-9, Mon & Thu 11-9, Fri 11-10. Grandma’s Kitchen: homestyle Mexican fare, lunch and dinner. 36 S Colville. Open: Fri-Sun 12-9, Tue-Thu 12-3, 5-9.

Fort Walla Walla Museum

The museum complex includes five buildings, each with a different focus on regional history that includes the Lewis and Clark expedition and the history of the various Fort Walla Walla installations that began with the original Hudson’s Bay fort of 1818, sited on the banks of the Columbia River at present day Wallula and originally named Fort Nez Percés, to the final Fort Walla Walla that closed in 1921. Displays include military weapons, gear, and campaign artifacts. Other displays educate on the development of agricultural technology, antique vehicles, and the Walla Walla Penitentiary, which opened in 1886, three years before statehood. Plan on 1.5 hours for your visit.

Here are details you will need, including the address to enter into your navigation app:

Fort Walla Walla Museum, 755 NE Myra Rd, Walla Walla, WA, 509-525-7703. Open: Mar-Oct daily 10-5, Nov-Feb 10-4; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Admission: Adult $10, 62+ and Students $9, 6-12 $5, under 6 Free. Wheel chairs and golf carts available to those who are mobility challenged. Extensive gift shop on site.