Whitman Mission National Historic Site - What's New on the Web (U.S. National Park Service)

painting of covered wagon being pulled by oxen

A Missionary Saga
First installment posted January 2009
A twelve-part serial about the Whitmans' trip out and their time at the mission site. New installments added weekly January through March 2009.

Agriculture at Whitman Mission
Posted November 2008
Learn about agriculture at the Whitman Mission. Read what Marcus, Narcissa, and their colleagues wrote about these efforts.

A young girl creates her own pictograph during a park craft activity.

For Kids
Posted October 2008
Hey Kids! These pages are for you. Learn about fun things you can do at the park and at home!

Two students plant small shrub along Doan Creek

Doan Creek Restoration Project - New Information
Posted October 2008
The Doan Creek Restoration Project is an on-going endeavor. Updates, additional information, and more photos have been added. These pages will continue to be revised, updated, and expanded throughout the Fall.

Arrivals, Introductions, and Losses
Posted October 2008
Birds seen in the Walla Walla Valley have changed since the time of the Whitmans. For example, the ring-necked pheasant (pictured at right) was introduced from Asia in the late 1800s by Judge Owen Denny, husband of Whitman "massacre" survivor Gertrude Hall.

Birding without Barriers
Posted October 2008
Whitman Mission National Historic Site has both a variety of habitats for birds and flat, paved, maintained paths. Located just off Highway 12, Whitman Mission makes birding easily accessible. This page offers some suggestions on when and where to look for birds on the grounds.

Small section of the John Mix Stanley painting of the Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Walla Walla.

The Many Fort Walla Wallas
Posted October 2008
Confused by the different answers to the question: "Where was Fort Walla Walla?" Did you even know that there was more than one fort by that name? This article may help.

Life at Whitman Mission
Posted October 2008
This section focuses on particular details of the life of the Whitmans and their colleagues. Links to pages on relevant topics will be added periodically.

Black and white photo of men in overalls inspecting dry pond.

The Mission Site: What Came After
Posted September 2008
Learn more about what happened after the deaths of the Whitmans and about others who later occupied this site.

Woman in 1800s clothing standing next to horse.

2008 Summer Event Schedule Updated
Posted July 2008
The summer event schedule is now available. Most events are Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00. There are also a few evening events.

painting of Narcissa Whitman, cropped to show only her head

Narcissa's Letters
Posted March 2008
Narcissa wrote many letters to family and friends. A collection of Narcissa's letters which are in the public domain are posted here. They are organized by year.

Exercise at the Park
Posted March 2008
The 2008 Presidential Fitness Challenge starts March 20th. Make Whitman Mission part of your fitness plan: Walk, jog, or plan a bike trip. Links to additional health/fitness sites can be found on the park's Exercise page.

Before and After Photos of the 2005 Prescribed Burn
Posted March 2008
In 2005 the area north of parking lot was burned. The grass came back green and lush. The park uses these burns to return nutrients to the soil and to reduce weeds. There will be another prescribed burn this March.

Photo of modern mission grounds from above.

The Mission Site: What Came After
Posted January 2008
Several groups of people occupied the area where the mission once stood, including the Rev. Cushing Eells and family, and before them the Oregon Volunteers.

Doan Creek Restoration Project
Posted January 2008
Whitman Mission is helping to restore a stream! Learn more about the process, the water quality indicators being measured, and what they tell us.

Painting showing T-shaped house with wagon and oxen in foreground.

Whitman Mission
Posted January 2008
This page includes links to information about the mission gleaned from archeological research and to a first person account by Thomas Farnham who visited the mission in 1839.

Archeological Photos: 1940s - 1960s
Posted January 2008
Wonder what the horse in the photo is doing? Find the answer here. This is just one of several photographs provided.

Worker sitting in hole of archeological excavation.

A Report on the Second Season's Excavations at Waiilatpu, 1948 Report
Posted January 2008
This excavation continued the work of the 1947 effort. Report includes speculation on the appearance of the mission house based on archeological discoveries and other information, and information on Fort Waters, which occupied the site after the death of the Whitmans.

The Archeological Excavation of Waiilatpu Mission, 1947 Report
Posted December 2007
Report includes information on the excavation of the main buildings and describes some of the artifacts found.

General Management Plan, 2000
Posted December 2007
The General Management Plan provides background and suggestions for several areas of park management. In addition, it provides background information about the park itself and information about pertinent legislation.

Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and the Opening of Old Oregon, by Clifford M. Drury
Posted December 2007
Clifford Drury extensively studied and wrote about the American Board missionaries to the Oregon Country. This two-volume work is available as a series of pdfs.

Christmas ornament decorated with Marcus Whitman, the memorial arch, and a Cayuse Indian.

Whitman Ornament hangs on 2007 White House Christmas Tree
Posted December 2007
Ornaments reprenting the nation's National Parks hang on the 2007 White House Christmas tree. Learn about Whitman Mission's ornament; see photos. There are also links to the White House Christmas web page and to pages showing all of the 2007 NPS Christmas ornaments.

Administrative History of Whitman Mission National Historic Site
Posted November 2007
This book discusses events leading to the establishment of the historic site, relevant legislation, and provides information about projects and accomplishments of each of the park's superintendents through 1987.

park ranger standing next to solar panel

Environmental Leadership
Posted October 2007
This new section describes some of the activities that earned the park several environmental awards, and provides information and links to learn more about these issues.

Looking for Marcus in Rushville
Posted October 2007
Marcus Whitman was born on September 5, 1802 in Rushville, New York (then known as Federal Hollow). Professor Michael McKenzie reflects upon Rushville then and now.