Walla Walla: History, Art and Landscape

Walla Walla offers different perspectives on history and culture: a pioneer village on the grounds of a military fort, a historic theater and art on a college campus. City trails and outings to Bennington Lake are also among the things to consider as you plan your trip.

History and Culture in Walla Walla

The Fort Walla Walla Museum is located on the grounds of a 19th-century military fort. The museum’s Pioneer Village includes 17 buildings: 15 original buildings from within a 30-mile radius of Walla Walla and two replicas. Historic structures and reconstructions stand side by side. The exhibits cover early contact between American settlers and Indigenous communities in the Walla Walla Valley, as well as the development of agriculture. A visit to the museum therefore encompasses both the region’s history and its agricultural development.

Downtown is home to Gesa Power House Theatre, a 300-seat performing arts venue. The theater is housed in a roughly 120-year-old former gas plant building, which was converted into a playhouse for live performances in 2011. The building’s original industrial purpose and its later use as a theater give the site two distinct historical layers. The building is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Washington State Building Preservation Commission’s register of state-protected historic buildings. If a performance is important to your trip planning, check the schedule for your travel dates.

The Kirkman House Museum combines a large residence with exhibits and events about Walla Walla’s early history and Victorian daily life. William and Isabelle Kirkman completed the house in 1880. Permanent and changing exhibits explore the museum’s themes; the events program may change. It’s therefore worth checking the schedule for specific dates during your stay.

The Whitman College Outdoor Sculpture Walk offers a different kind of cultural experience. The self-guided walk crosses the Whitman College campus and features 21 sculptures. While museums and theaters convey history inside buildings, this walk leads to works of art in a campus setting.

Trails and Landscapes Around Walla Walla

Bennington Lake is in southeastern Washington State, a few minutes from historic downtown Walla Walla. The lake offers views of the northern Blue Mountains. Visitors can hike, fish and paddle there. The area combines scenic experiences with a range of water activities, while downtown can serve as the cultural focus of your trip.

The paved Mill Creek Trail runs through Walla Walla and heads toward Rooks Park and the area around Bennington Lake. The Walla Walla Valley also has paved bike trails through historic neighborhoods and agricultural areas of Walla Walla. These descriptions offer different points of reference for planning: the Mill Creek Trail is a specific route, while the bike trails extend across the wider valley.

Downtown and Getting Here

Downtown, tasting rooms are located in historic buildings along Main Street and on the surrounding blocks. Across the wider Walla Walla Valley, wineries and tasting rooms are spread across six major districts. Tastings are therefore available in places ranging from downtown to a larger area with several districts.

The Walla Walla Valley Transit Center is right next to the Downtown Farmers Market; visitors can arrive by bus. As transit services may change, check the schedule for your travel day. This helps you coordinate your travel plans with the sights and activities that matter to you during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Touchet

For the main travel overview: Walla Walla.