WAIILATPU PRESS

Vol.11 No.l Whitman Mission National Historic Site Published with Pacfic Northwest Summer 1990 Walla Walla, Washington National Park and Forest Association Funds

DID YOU KNOW THAT?

AMERICANS RFCFTVE ALOMST 2 WASHING MACHINES USE ABOUT 14% IT TAKES ONE 15 - 20 YEAR 1990's MILLION TONS OF JUNK MAIN OF ALL WATER USED IN THE HONE? OLD TREE TO MAKE ENOUGH EVERY YEAR? If only 100,000 Always wash a full load and PAPER FOR ONLY 700 GROCERY people stopped their junk use warm wash and cold rinse. BAGS? THE mail, we could save 150,000 Think twice, paper or trees per year. To stop junk MICROWAVE OVENS USE ONLY 1/3 plastic? Plastic does not mail, Write to: Main 1/2 THE ENERGY OF biodegrade. Even ENVIRONMENTAL Preference service, Direct CONVENTIONAL OVENS? "Biodegradable" just breaks Marketing Association, 11 w. down into tiny pieces. DECADE 42nd. Street, P.O. Box 3861, A RUNNING FAUCET USES MORE New York, NY 10136-38 61. WATER THAN YOU THINK. SOME SOLUTION: Use no bag if EXAMPLES ARE: your purchase is small or SOME 240 - 260 MILLION TIRES * You can easily use 5 bring your own cloth bag ARE DISCARDFD EACH YEAR IN THE gallons of water while from home. U.S.? We are clogging land brushing your teeth. Just fills all over the country. wet and rinse your brush. "STRY0F0AM". (polystyrene Support local and regional foam). IS COMPLETELY NON­ efforts to recycle tires and BIODEGRADABLE? 500 years from not that foam cup could use the most efficient tires * If you shave with the possible on your car. still be sitting on the water running, you can use earth's surface. Avoid foam 10 -20 gallons of water. egg cartons, disposable IF ALL CONSUMFRS RAISED THE Fill the basin. SETTINGS OF THEIR AIR picnic goods, etc. In fast C0JNDITIONERS BY 6 DEGREES_WE food resturants, ask for * Washing the dishes by paper plates and cups. COULD SAVE 150.000 BARRELS OF hand with the water OIL PER DAY. running will average 30 gallons of water. Fill the IT TAKES AN ENTIRE FOREST - MORE THAT 25% OF THE AVERAGE sink or basin. OVER 500.00 TREES. TO SUPPLY CITY APARTMFNT DWELLERS AMERICANS WITH THEIR SUNDAY ELECTRICITY GOES FOR * Washing your car with the NEWSPAPERS EVERY WEEK? Save REGRIGERATION? Keep the hose will use 150 gallons of (newspapers, and recycle them, condenser coils on your water. Use a self service in 1988 Americans recycles 24 refrigerator clean and the car wash (only about 5 - 10 of the million tons of paper door gasket in good repair. gallons) or a sponge and used, or 29%. Good, but we bucket. can do better.

"Let's ask There is a project underway at the man over Whitman Mission to return much THE MAN IN THE GRAY SHIRT there in the of the park to plants similar gray shirt." to what was here when Whitman help in emergencies. All the staff, wearing gray Many of the lived here. Staff members plan shirts or regular clothes make visitors to "and carry out the work People who wear gray shirts Whitman Mission National Whitman necessary to do this. Caring take care of many of the Historic Site a pleasant place Mission for the resource is a big job administrative duties necessary to visit, to learn about the N a t i o n a 1 that never ends. The pond for the park to run properly. past and enjoy a lovely day. Historic Site ask staff members banks need continual attention. They use the computer, work who wear gray shirts all kinds People stray off the paths on with the park neighbors on of questions, both in the the hill and make trails which mutual concerns, and with city visitor center and out on the the park staff try to repair. and county officials to build park grounds. Some of those The lawns need to be mowed each good relations between the people are what the National week, and generally maintained. National Park Service and Park Service call interpreters, The staff in proud of the members of the community. some are members of the Whitman cleanliness of the restrooms Mission maintenance staff. All and the visitor center. All of staff people try their best to these things are done with as People who wear gray shirts are answer visitor questions or little inconvenience to the both men and women. They are help in any way they can. visitor as possible. young and middle age, tall and short, thin and chubby. All Staff members People in work for a common goal, for the do all kinds gray shirts visitor to have an informative of things. take fee and pleasant visit to Whitman They mow money, answer Mission. lawns, edge any questions the walks, visitors have But...A few members of our park weed and about the family do not wear gray shirts. clean, vacuum history here, If you call on the phone, the and dust the about the person who usually answers does visitsor center and scrub the Walla Walla Valley, about how not wear a gray shirt, nor does restrooms. They also are to get from here to some place the one who keeps track of the concerned with conservation of else. They talk to school budget, or the curator who the resource here at Whitman children, give cultural catalogs the artifacts. These Mission. They protect the demonstrations and sell books folks render a vital service to vegetation, the mission sites and postcards. They are the smooth operation of Whitman and the shaft hill. qualified to give first aid and Mission. CULTURAL DEMONSTRATIONS

June 16 - 17 Julv 2*. 199° Churn butter and bake bread in dutch Tenth annual Indian Pnw Wnw HELP..,us preserve the oven. beauty of Whitman Mission NHS by keeping Indian foods and utensils. y ~8 " 29 on the paved pathes on the Shaft Hill. The Jerky stew. soil and vegetation in June 23 - 24 this natural area are Indian fry bread. very fragile and it is Repairing an wagon. the only part of the park which remains as Biscuit root cookies. August 4 - 5 it was when the Marcus and Toys and games of pioneer children. lived here. So future June 30 - July 1 generations may also Toys and games of Indian children. enjoy this natural Buffalo gravy and cornbread in beauty, please help us reflector oven. by not picking flowers August 10-11 or any other plant Indian horses and travel. Wool Spinning. material.

July 7-8 Moccasin making

Buffalo jerky and gingerbread in dutch oven. August 18-19

Smoking deer hides. Knitting with handspun yarn.

Teepees and tule mats. July 14 - 15

Light your fire with flint and steel. August 25-26

Indian beadwork and clothing. Guns of the Whitman period.

Finger weaving. HANDICAPPED

YOUR PET IN THE PARK ACCESSIBILITY

Whitman Mission is striving to promote full access will come in contact with geese, to park programs by people with physical and mental ducks or other wildlife, nor are disabilities. Our goal at Whitman Mission is they permitted in public build­ .. .To provide the highest level of ings or at interpretive talks. accessibility possible and feasible for The parks are not prepared to persons with visual, hearing, mobility, care for pets, nor are they ready and mental impairments, consistent with to handle problems or conflicts the obligation to conserve park resources and preserve the quality of the park between pets, visitors and wild­ experience for everyone. life. Pets have traditionally been an Before your next visit to important part of American Whitman Mission, consider your families. It's hard to argue pet's feelings, and possibly against a "dog being man's best those of other visitors. Decide SERVICES AVAILABLE friend;" unless of course you're if your pet will enjoy a visit a cat lover. to the park as much as he might Today, pets are allowed in enjoy being left at home with Mobility almost all National Park Service friends. If your pet is not areas, but they still must stay historically minded, she might wheelchair for loan. on a leash, or be kept in the . prefer the shade of her dog car. They are not permitted house, and feel more important Hearing to run loose at any time. Pets being the watchman while you are not allowed where they are away from home. Script to 10 minute park orientation program. Script to outdoor wayside exhibit recorded messages. The WAIILATPU PRESS is published by the staff of Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Rt. 2, Sight Walla Walla, Washington 99362. It is distributed free of charge in the Large type version of park Visitor Center. Duplication of any or information brochure. all of this material for educational p urposes is encouraged WHITMAN MISSION BOOKS TAKE HOME A MEMORY OF WAIILATPU

Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and the opening of Old Oregon By Drury. Shallow Grave By Thompson The true story of the Sager Two volume set, includes children as written by a personal data on Marcus and National Park Service Narcissa from their early Historian. 178 pgs. $7.95 years to the journey west & the Whitman Mission. 990 pgs. $19.50

Whitman Mission. By Thompson My Journal. By whitman A history of the Whitman's and Narcissa Whitman's journal their mission, plus the written on the overland present day park journey West in 1836. 73 pgs. A GPO Book. $4.95 92 pgs. $3.00

Stout Hearted Seven By Frazier Travels in the Great Plains. Country. By True story of the Sagers, By Farham. Gulick. orphaned on the Oregon Trail, A firsthand 1839 account of Well illustrated history of adopted by the Whitmans. traveling along the Oregon the Indians. Hard­ Written for Junior and Senior trail. 108pgs bound. 316pgs. $34.95 High School age. 174pgs $3.00 $3.40

Whitman Mission National Historic Site beginners beading kit Includes instructions and all materials needed to construct a simple medalion of traditional Cayuse design. Ctecific Northwest National Parks & Forests Association Kit has three different color MOI HJCTH AV1NUE ROOM 1 MO SbATTLE. ..IH1MCTON Mill 110.1 Ml '.SI beads (our choice). $1.85 Honey from Che sale of these items goes back to the National Park Service and National Forest Service to make possible the publication of educational materials. The Cayuse Indians: Imperial Tribesmen of Old Oregon. By Ruby and Brown. ORDER BLANK History of the small Cayuse Retail Total band which Marcus and Narcissa Quantity Title Price Retail Cost Whitman first white Missionaries settled among. 345 pgs. Hardback-$17.95 Softback-$11.95

Drummers and Dreamers. By Releander Total Documents of the teach­ Sales Tax 7.0% ings of the Indian prophet Name. (Washington residents only) who founded the Dreamer Postage and Handling religion.$9.95 Address. ($.50 per item: S2.00 maximum) + Amount enclosed City. . State. .Zip.

. Enclose money order or check - no stamps or C.O.D. orders. Prices subject to change without notice • Maps mailed folded unless you add $.25 for mailing tube Life in Old Oregon-Two Paths + $3.75 minimum on Canadian orders. By Cain. Compares Indian And Pioneer Whitman Mission National Historic Site lifestyle of the 1840's. For Attn: PNNPFA grades 1 thru 4. 16pgs . 47 Route 2 Walla Walla, WA 99362 THE MISSION AT WAIILATPU

FOR YOUR SAFETY: We want your visit to be a safe one. Please be cautious around the mill pond and irrigation ditch. If the walks are wet use extra caution and walk slowly down the Memorial Shaft Hill.

Waiilatpu, meaning "place of Factor John McLoughlin. same way on what became known the people of the rye grass" is as the Oregon Trail, and they the site of a mission founded The Whitmnans opened their stopped for rest and supplies in 1836 among the Cayuse mission among the Cayuse at at the mission. They had taken Indians by Marcus and Narcissa Waiilatpu, the Spaldings among wagons as far as , Whitman. As emigrants began the Nez Perce at Lapwai, 110 where they repacked their moving across the continent miles to the east. The belongings and traveled the into the Pacific Northwest missionaries learned the Indian rest of the way by horse and during the 1840's the mission Languages and assigned the foot. Whitman led the first also became an important words English spellings. wagon train all the way to the station on the Oregon Trail. Spalding printed books in Nez Columbia River on his return Perce and Spokan on a press journey. Interest in the Old Oregon brought to Lapwai in 1839, the country was stirred in the first books published in the Although the main trail by­ 1820's by an article in a New Pacific Northwest. passed the mission after 1844, York Methodist publication those who were sick and which described the visit to The Missionaries expanded destitute turned to the mission St. Louis by some western gradually. Other missionaries, for shelter and comfort. One Indians seeking teachers and including the Rev. and Mrs. such wagon brought the seven the white man's "Book of Cushing Eel 1s, the Rev. and Sager children, who had been heaven" - the Bible. This Mrs. Elkanah Walker, arrived orphaned on the trail. With mostly fictional story and new stations were kindness and compassion, the stimulated interest in work established. At Waiilatpu, the Whitmans took the children into among the Native Americans in large adobe house, gristmill, their family. Oregon. sawmill and blacksmith shop were constructed. William Gray After 11 years of working with Or. Marcus and Mrs. Narcissa built a house for himself that the Indians, the mission effort Whitman along with Rev. Henry later srved as an "emigrant ended in violence. There were Spalding and his wife Eliza and house" for travelers. several causes behind the William Gray were selected by Indian unrest. Deep cultural the American Board of Foreign Progress was slow, The Indians differences between the white Missions to go to the Oregon were indifferent to religious and Indian ways of life had Memorial Shaft Country and choose mission worship, books, and school. In caused tension and sites. They headed westward 1842 reports of disension and misunderstanding. Increasing soon after the Whitmans were lack of funds caused the Board numbers of emigrants, and married on Feg. 18, 1836. to order the Waiilatpu stations stories of settlers taking closed. Convinced that the Indian land elsewhere, mission and killed Marcus In 1848 Joseph Meek, carrying The journey was a notable one mission should' remain open, convinced the Cayuse that their Whitman, his wife, the Sager news of the TRagedy and as Narcissa Whitman and eliza Whitman undertook a nid-winter way of life was in danger. A boys, and nine others. A few petitions from the settlers to Spalding were the first white overland journey to Boston to measles epidemic, brought in survivors escaped, but 50, Comgress, reached Washington, women to cross the continent plead his case in person with 1847 by the emigrants, spread mostly women and children, were D.C.. Congress created the overland. The missionaries the Board. He left Waiilatpu rapidly among the Cayuse, who taken captive. Two young girls ,in August of light wagon, reduced to a cart, on October 3, 1842 and after had no resistance to the - Louise Sager and Helen Mar that year, the first formal was the first wheeled vehicle many hazzardous miles reached disease, and within a short Meek - and a small boy died Territorial government west of to travel as far west as Fort St. Louis on March 9, 1843. time half the tribe died. from the mealses. The others the Rockies. Boise. The party reached the The Board, moved by his were ransomed a month later by Columbia River on September 1, arguments, recinded its orders. When Whitman's medicine hleped Peter Skene Ogden of the 1836. After a brief visit at white children but not theirs, Hudson's Bay Company. The , the Hudson's Whitman returned to Oregon with many Cayuse believed they were killings ended Protestant Bay Company headquarters, the a wagon train in the Great being poisoned to make way for missions in the men returned up the Columbia to Migration of 1843, serving as the emigrants. and led to war against the select their mission stations. physician and guide. The year Cayuse by settlers from the The women remained temporarily before, the first large group Then, on November 29, 1847, a Willamette and lower Columbia behind as guests of Cheif- of emigrants passes almost the band of Cayuse attacked the Valleys.