Pendleton: Culture, History and Trails

Pendleton offers different ways to explore its past and present: the Oregon Trail, Western heritage, museums, art and trails along the Umatilla River. Which of these topics interests you most can shape your stay. Historic sites and cultural institutions each have their own focus, while the trails lead along the river or through the city.

Oregon Trail and Western Heritage

Pendleton was a stopping point on the Oregon Trail. The first Pendleton Round-Up took place on September 29, 1910. Today, the Round-Up is described as a weeklong celebration of Western heritage, with parades, concerts and a nighttime stage show. It takes place every year during the second full week of September. If you plan to time your visit around it, check the specific event dates; individual program items may change.

The Pendleton Round-Up & Happy Canyon Hall of Fame preserves the traditions and history of the Round-Up and Happy Canyon. This means that the event itself is not the only focus: its legacy and cultural background are also explored. The event, its historical development and the Hall of Fame’s work offer different points of interest for anyone interested in the city’s Western heritage.

Museums and Regional History

At the Heritage Station Museum, visitors can step inside a one-room schoolhouse, the Fix family cabin and Pendleton’s historic 1909 train depot. The “Umatilla Gold” exhibit tells the story of wheat, from its early beginnings to its cultivation today by local farmers. Its timeline connects early agriculture with the present; the exhibit may be updated or replaced over time.

The permanent “WE WERE” exhibit at the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute offers a different perspective. It presents the way of life before contact with Europe: shaped by self-sufficiency in a rich natural environment, as well as by balance and order. The Pendleton Air Museum explores the significance of the Pendleton Field Army Air Corps Base to the United States’ involvement in World War II. The museum offers individual, group and private tours; tour arrangements may change.

The Pendleton Air & Military Museum has its own institutional mission: to acquire, preserve, interpret, demonstrate and exhibit—for the enjoyment and education of the public. The different museum offerings therefore cover local history as well as cultural and historical contexts.

Art, Textiles and Tours

The Pendleton Center for the Arts features exhibits that may include hands-on art projects you can create and take home. The projects offered may change. All areas of the arts center are fully accessible. Jacquard fabrics and blankets are woven at Pendleton’s original mill. Visitors can also take a tour of Pendleton Woolen Mills; check current tour arrangements before your visit.

Trails Along the River and Through the City

The Pendleton River Parkway follows the levee along much of the south bank of the Umatilla River. The Pendleton Adventure Trails Recreation Area is northwest of Pendleton, near the airport. It offers easy to moderate trails for runners, hikers and mountain bikers. Pendleton Parks and Recreation also manages a trail network of more than 60 miles.

As a walking tour of Pendleton, the Bronze Trail passes bronze statues and public artworks. It offers a different focus from the trails along the Umatilla River or in the Adventure Trails Recreation Area: here, the emphasis is on artworks around town. Together, these different options can help you decide whether you’re more interested in city history, cultural institutions or outdoor trails.

Explore more destinations: Hermiston, Milton-Freewater, Umatilla.

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