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In a community so rich in history and art, it makes perfect sense that the Walla Walla Valley is a hub for
art enthusiasts.
Featured as an Art Town in the second and third editions of author John Villani’s “100 Best Small Art Towns
In America,” Walla Walla’s art galleries have been classified as “a great place to buy high quality art at affordable
prices.”
The accessibility of viewing original works of art
at galleries, restaurants, gift shops, and winery
tasting rooms, and an impressive collection of public
art in community locations makes it apparent that
Walla Walla has made a significant commitment to the
arts. This is further emphasized by the success of
local college arts programs, efforts by the local
Arts Alliance to encourage businesses to sponsor community
artists, and the success of local foundries that specialize
in highly acclaimed art that’s shipped worldwide.
If antiquing...search the shops located in settings
such as a historic home, log cabin, or renovated creamery
for that unique object or piece of furniture. Find
items from the early mining and farming days. Convenient
locations of the many antique shops make it easy to
collect a bit of local history. A map and listing
of area antique shops is available at the Walla
Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce, 29 East Sumach.
| Bruce Memorial Museum |
| Address: | PO Box 341
Waitsburg, WA |
| Region: | Walla Walla Valley |
| Phone: | (509) 337-6157 |
| Season: | June-September |
| Price: | Free; donations willingly accepted |
| ADA | Yes |
| Website: | None |
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| Description: | This elegant Victorian mansion, built in 1883 by William P. and Caroline Bruce, has been completely restored and furnished by the Waitsburg Historical Society. |
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| Children's Museum of Walla Walla |
| Address: | 77 Wainwright Place
Walla Walla, WA |
| Region: | Walla Walla Valley |
| Phone: | (509) 526-7529 |
| Season: | Year-round |
| Price: | $4 per person |
| ADA | Yes |
| Website: | www.cmwallawalla.org |
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| Description: | The Children's Museum of Walla Walla is a unique place developed to intrigue and inspire children. The museum will feature special events such as a pinewood derby for Father's Day, a variety of science workshops, and a rocket workshop. The museum also includes many permanent exhibits:
The Enchanted Theater- A life size puppet theater that gives children the chance to dress up in costumes and perform onstage while learning about music and creativity.
The Bug Patch Party Room- A large room filled with flowers and various insects. This room is available for birthday/special occassion rentals.
Our Powerful Valley- Shows kids how snow in the Blue Mountains becomes electricity that lights our homes.
Wee Walla Walla Harvest Market- A kid sized supermarket that gives children a real shopping experience.
Other exhibits will include the Doctor's Office, the Mexican Restaurant, and Construction Junction.
The Museum is open Thursday-Sunday 10am-5pm. |
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| Dayton Historic Depot |
| Address: | 222 E. Commercial St.
Dayton, WA |
| Region: | Walla Walla Valley |
| Phone: | (509) 382-2026 |
| Season: | Year-round |
| Price: | $2.00 |
| ADA | Yes |
| Website: | www.daytonhistoricdepot.org |
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| Description: | 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. Revolving exhibits are featured in the upstairs gallery. The depot museum also features guided tours, fabulous local photos, antiques, and a gift shop. |
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| Fort Walla Walla Museum |
| Address: | 755 Myra Rd.
Walla Walla, WA |
| Region: | Walla Walla Valley |
| Phone: | (509) 525-7703 |
| Season: | April-October |
| Price: | $7 adults, $6 seniors and students, $3 children 6-12, under 6 are free |
| ADA | Yes |
| Website: | www.fortwallawallamuseum.org |
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| Description: | 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 Museum features a pioneer settlement complete with original buildings including a cabin built by Ransom Clark in the 1850s, the Union School built in 1867, a jail from Prescott, a barbershop, a railroad depot from Eureka Flats, and many other buildings. There are also five spacious exhibit halls filled with hundreds of exhibits featuring horse-era agriculture, pioneer life, and military history. Time magazine rated Fort Walla Walla Museum as one of 11 notable sites in the nation to experience the Lewis & Clark Expedition, and the National Park Service added its recognition in 2005. This season, the Museum is proudly displaying the Lloyd Family Indian Artifact Collection: Positive Cultural Interaction in Southeast Washington. Featuring scores of dazzling beaded and embroidered items, baskets, and photographs, the exhibit tells stories of more than 80 years of friendship between a pioneer family and their friends among the region’s Homeland Tribes. Fort Walla Walla Museum offers programs, special events, kids camps, and tours for schools or other groups. We are a family-oriented museum with plenty of activities for all age groups. Open daily, 10 am – 5 pm, April through October.
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| Heritage Station Museum |
| Address: | 108 SW Frazer Ave.
Pendleton, WA |
| Region: | Walla Walla Valley |
| Phone: | (541) 276-0012 |
| Season: | Year-round, Saturdays 10am-4pm |
| Price: | Free |
| ADA | Yes |
| Website: | www.heritagestationmuseum.org |
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| Description: | Heritage Station, The Umatilla County Historical Museum, is telling the story of this region’s unique heritage. It’s a BIG story, so exhibits are not static. They change often to portray local history from a variety of perspectives, utilizing historic objects and information from the museum archives. The Museum also hosts touring exhibits and showcases private collections. |
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| Kirkman House Museum |
| Address: | 214 N. Colville St.
Walla Walla, WA |
| Region: | Walla Walla Valley |
| Phone: | (509) 529-4373 |
| Season: | Year-round |
| Price: | Suggested donation of $5 for adults/ $3 seniors and students |
| ADA | Yes |
| Website: | www.kirkmanhousemuseum.org |
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| Description: | The Kirkman House Museum was originally a private residence built by William & Isabella Kirkman in the 1800s. By 1977 the home was in severe disrepair and in danger of being demolished. The Historical Architecture Development Corporation, a group of Walla Walla citizens determined to save historic homes and buildings of the community, purchased the Kirkman House. The home has been restored and furnished in the Victorian-era style using many Kirkman family heirlooms and other exquisite period pieces; the Washington State Historic Preservation Trust honored the Kirkman House Museum with an award for Outstanding Work in Historic Preservation. The museum utilizes its unique history to illustrate the distinct cultural heritage of the region through public tours and community programming. Visitors to the museum will experience the home with a privately guided tour tailored to visitors’ interests. During the summer months, the Kirkman House Museum hosts children’s workshops including instructional textiles classes, Beatrix Potter day, Victorian Tea Parties and much more. The Kirkman House also participates in Walla Walla’s First Friday ArtWalk with rotating exhibitions. |
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| Maxey Museum |
| Address: | Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA |
| Region: | Walla Walla Valley |
| Phone: | (509) 527-5294 |
| Season: | School terms |
| Price: | Free |
| ADA | Yes |
| Website: | http://www.whitman.edu/content/museum |
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| Description: | Since 1899 the Maxey Museum has been providing an opportunity for Whitman students to make history come alive. All exhibits are designed and created by students under the direction of Professor Nina Lerman. Admission is free and tours are available upon request. The museum is located in the auditorium building of Maxey Hall next to the Environmental Studies wing. |
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| Museum of Unnatural History |
| Address: | 4 1/2 W. Main St.
Walla Walla, WA |
| Region: | Walla Walla Valley |
| Phone: | (509) 529-9399 |
| Season: | Year-round, Saturdays 10am-4pm |
| Price: | Free |
| ADA | Yes |
| Website: | www.wallawalladada.com/ |
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| Description: | Walla Walla's own Museum of Unnatural History & Black Door Gallery houses a bizarre collection of three dimensional art at least as provocative as the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles. Located upstairs over a drugstore, this display of surreal and dadaistic constructions is at once deep and highly entertaining. Not for the easily offended. |
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| Pendleton Undergrounds Tour |
| Address: | 37 S.W. Emigrant Ave.
Pendleton, WA |
| Region: | Walla Walla Valley |
| Phone: | (800-) 226-6398 |
| Season: | Year round call for tour sechedule |
| Price: | $15 |
| ADA | Yes |
| Website: | www.pendletonundergroundtours.org |
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| Description: | Pendleton Underground Tours ( P.U.T.) is a non-profit corporation that started in 1989, giving tours of Pendleton's red light district. The tour was very controversial because part of the subject matter is about gambling, the Chinese, bootlegging and prostitution. In 1990, after opening the "Cozy Rooms" bordello, Chinese jails and the Opium Den, the tour became even more questionable. The history of legal and illegal businesses operating in the same area for over 100 years makes the tour unique and like no other tour anywhere. The history of the Chinese in Eastern Oregon and their role in building the west is also unique. The tour is entertaining and interesting to all ages from 6 years old to 95 years old there is something for every member of the family.
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| Tamastslikt Cultural Institute |
| Address: | 72789 Highway 331
Pendleton, WA |
| Region: | Walla Walla Valley |
| Phone: | (800) 654-9453 |
| Season: | Year-round |
| Price: | Adults: $6, Seniors/Children/Students: $4, Families (up to 5 people): $12, age 5 and under: Free |
| ADA | Yes |
| Website: | www.tamastslikt.org |
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| Description: | Immerse yourself in the history, culture and hospitality of the people who have lived on this land for more than 10,000 years. Come to Tamástslikt Cultural Institute and experience the storied past, rich present and bright future of our tribes through interactive exhibits, special events and a Living Culture Village. More than just a museum, Tamástslikt celebrates the traditions of Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla Tribes. With dramatic exhibits, renowned artwork and interesting — and yes, fun — events year-round. Tamástslikt Cultural Institute offers a 10,000-year voyage in a single afternoon. |
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| The Frazier Farmstead Museum |
| Address: | 1403 Chestnut St.
Milton-Freewater, WA |
| Region: | Walla Walla Valley |
| Phone: | (541) 938-4636 |
| Season: | April-December |
| ADA | Yes |
| Website: | museum.bmi.net |
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| Description: | This museum is on the original homesite of community founder W.S. Frazier. Settled in 1868, the six-acre site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The restored home contains many of its original furnishings. Several farm buildings remain on the site, and a perennial herb garden, a rose garden, a gift shop, and a historical research facility are located on the grounds as well. |
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| Whitman Mission |
| Address: | 328 Whitman Mission Rd.
Walla Walla, WA |
| Region: | Walla Walla Valley |
| Phone: | (509) 529-2761 |
| Season: | Year-round |
| Price: | $3 for ages 17 and over, $5 per family |
| ADA | Yes |
| Website: | www.nps.gov/whmi |
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| Description: | Located seven miles west of Walla Walla on Highway 12, the Whitman Mission is a National Historic Site and was built in 1836 by Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. After more than a decade of living and working with the Cayuse Indians, the Whitman's mission effort ended in violence as a band of indians killed the Whitmans and 11 others. The massacre sparked a war between the Cayuse and area settlers from the Willamette and Lower Columbia Valleys and eventually led to the creation of the Oregon Territory in 1848. Demonstrations replicating pioneer and Cayuse life in the 1840s are staged each weekend. |
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