In the early 1800s, fur traders established a trading post and fort in the area. On Sept. 1, 1836, Marcus Whitman and his wife arrived in our region to build the Whitman Mission in an attempt to convert the local Walla Walla tribe to Christianity. Walla Walla was officially incorporated on Jan. 11, 1862. The name Walla Walla is of Indian origin and means “many waters.”
As a result of a gold rush in Idaho during this decade, our city became the largest community in the territory of Washington. At one point it was even slated to become the new state's capital. Following this period of rapid growth, agriculture became the city's primary industry.
Our area gets roughly 17 inches of rain per year and 19 inches of snowfall. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is approximately 107. On average, there are 188 sunny days per year in our community. The July high is around 89 degrees, and the January low is about 28.
Walla Walla School District provides educational services to our younger residents through six elementary, two middle and two high schools. There are also several private schools to choose from as an alternative to the public system. Whitman College and Walla Walla Community College are both available in town for those seeking higher education. There are seven other colleges within 114 miles of Walla Walla.
We are home to St. Mary's Medical Center and Walla Walla General Hospital. There are an additional three medical centers within 36 miles of our community. Walla Walla Regional Airport has three runways and offers commercial flights. We are host to two smaller airports as well. Walla Walla also boasts its own public library system.
Enjoy a leisurely ride in an elegant horse-drawn carriage; visit our many antique dealers; stop by the Children's Museum of Walla Walla, a unique place developed to intrigue and inspire children; or puruse the plethora of art galleries showcasing works by local and national artists.
Our storied history has allowed us to host a great amount of museums. The Fort Walla Walla Museum is located within the one-square-mile military reservation that served as Fort Walla Walla from the 1850s to the early 1900s. The Dayton Depot is the oldest surviving train depot in the state. It was originally built in 1881 and designed in the Stick/Eastlake style. It has been beautifully restored and is now a museum.
Check out the Blue Mountain Lavender Farm, situated in the fertile Walla Walla Valley. It was inspired by the rich color and fragrance of lavender fields in the South of France. Surrounded by rolling hills of wheat and alfalfa, their farm is an island of color set against the greens and golds of the summer season.
Walla Walla has 17 public city parks and facilities that encompass some 600 acres of grass and trees with playgrounds, pools and walkways. For those seeking a more rural encounter with nature, our region features hiking trails winding through miles of unspoiled forests.
Other choices for outdoor adventures include fishing, hunting, horseback riding, boating, canoeing and camping. For the young and the young at heart, there’s BMX racing, disc golf and skateboarding at Fort Walla Walla Park. And the fun extends throughout the winter, too, with downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.
Though many people know our city’s name from many different Warner Bros. cartoons, few know how much Walla Walla really has to offer. Stop by our United Country office, and let us help you Find Your Freedom.