Whitman Mission National Historic Site

Summers are sunny and usually hot. Summer temperatures: Highs around 92° F., lows around 62° F. Wear shorts, T-shirt, hat, and sunscreen. Winters can be cloudy and cold. Winter temperatures: Highs around 40° F.,lows around 20° F. Coat and hat recommended.

No Fees.

Activities such as sunbathing, kite flying, and lawn games such as Frisbee, badminton, and ball games are allowed only in the picnic area and lawns adjacent to the parking lot.

Bicycles are allowed only on the paved road or parking lot. No bikes are allowed on the paved trails or dirt trails in the park. Bike racks are located in the grass oval in front of the Visitor Center and at the east end of the reconstructed Oregon Trail ruts. Bikes may be walked through the park.

Roller skates, in-line skates, and skateboards are allowed only in the parking area.

Fishing is allowed in Mill Creek. Fishing rod, line, and tackle in accordance with state law and regulations may be hand carried from the Visitor Center parking area to Mill Creek. Fishing is not allowed in the park pond or irrigation ditches.

Activities which are not allowed:

• Swimming and bathing are not allowed in the park.
• Camping is not allowed within Whitman Mission National Historic Site.
• The use of horses or pack animals is not allowed within the park.

Picnic tables are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are nine tables located at the far end of the Visitor Center parking lot. Each table can accommodate a wheelchair.

Fires are allowed, but only in the picnic area. Fires must be in a container that will not damage the table, trees, grass or other park resources. Fires and other heat sources must be extinguished and completely cold before any materials are placed in park trash cans. Coals or other combustible materials may never be thrown into the revegetation area.

Biking is not allowed on the park site itself, but Whitman Mission does make a nice destination for an afternoon bike ride. Bike racks for securing your bike are located at both the main and back entrances to the park. So have a refreshing ride, then stop for a break, a stroll through the mission grounds, or to have a picnic.

Museum

The museum at Whitman Mission compares and contrasts the lifestyles of the Whitmans and the Cayuse. The museum includes Native American cultural items, archeological artifacts, and items that belonged to the Whitmans and the Sagers.

Slide Show

The park has a 10-minute slide show that is shown every 30 minutes, or upon request during slower periods of visitation. Groups may request an introductory talk.

Lobby Displays

Displays in the lobby include a small tule lodge, a covered wagon and supplies, a spinning wheel, and a model of how the grounds may have looked when the Whitmans lived here.

Book Store

A small book store sells books about the Whitmans, the Cayuse and other Plateau Tribes, fur trappers and explorers, and about the Oregon Trail.

Walla Walla

• Ft. Walla Walla Museum, 7 miles
• Kirkman House Museum, 7 miles
• Whitman College, 7 miles

  Other Nearby Historical Attractions

  • Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, 50 miles

    Other Federal Areas

    • Umatilla National Forest - Walla Walla District