Whitman Mission National Historic Site

Whitman Mission near Walla Walla, Washington, marks a place of resilience and tragedy. The Whitman family, all devout Presbyterians, set up the mission to help pioneers. Caravans needed assistance moving west, and this mission was a stop near the end of the Oregon Trail.

Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife, Narcissa, established the mission in 1836. At the time, Mrs. Whitman was the first European woman to travel across the entire American continent. They befriended local Native Americans, the Cayuse tribe, and asked for their help in forming the mission.

Unfortunately, relations didn't last for very long. Differences in culture led to tensions between the Whitmans and the Cayuse. Increased numbers of settlers brought added pressure and disease. A measles outbreak decimated half of the local Cayuse population. The surviving members of the tribe blamed the Whitmans. The Cayuse murdered the Whitmans and their 11 children before taking 60 hostages in 1847.

The end of Whitman Mission forced Congress to take action. The federal government made Oregon an official territory at that point, which meant federal troops and aid.

The site today features a small hilltop surrounded by plains. A visitor's center shows you why Whitman Mission was important to American history. A memorial stone sits on top of a mass grave where the Whitmans are buried. A millpond on one side of the property shows where the Whitmans milled wheat or corn.

Check out wildlife, hiking, and water-based recreational opportunities when you're done at Whitman Mission. Walla Walla has a little bit of everything for your weekend getaway or summer vacation.