Draft Exhibit Outline June 23, 2020 Wallowa History Center
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Draft Exhibit Outline June 23, 2020 Wallowa History Center INTRODUCTION Thanks to a long-term lease with the City of Wallowa, in 2018 the Wallowa History Center (WHC) moved into the historic Bear-Sleds Ranger District headquarters in Wallowa. A volunteer-driven, grassroots effort has already resulted in transformation of a former office building into a visitor center and research facility. Now the WHC is focused on renovation of an adjacent warehouse, spacious enough to house a unique exhibit that introduces visitors and residents alike to the complex and often contentious history of the Wallowa region. For most motorists entering the Wallowa Country, the town of Wallowa is the gateway; a prime location for this interpretive experience that whets their appetite to explore and learn more. At the Wallowa History Center, visitors and newcomers find a unique exhibit that orients them to the sweep of events, past and present, that have shaped this remote, beautiful place. Featuring commissioned artworks by noted regional artists, the displays interpret the complex and evolving history of the Wallowa Country. A portion of the exhibit gallery is dedicated to and designed for changing exhibits. Where Highway 82 merges with Wallowa's Main Street, eye-catching signage directs visitors to the historic Bear-Sleds Ranger Station compound, home of the Wallowa History Center. Inside the former ranger's office, a friendly volunteer welcomes visitors, and directs them to the exhibit gallery inside the nearby renovated warehouse building. EXHIBIT OVERVIEW AND OUTLINE Introductory Panel: At Home in the Wallowa Country Introductory Quotes: Evocative photos are paired with selected quotes about what people love about the Wallowa country from Native people, descendants of homesteaders, more recent immigrants, newcomers, tourists. A feedback station invites visitors to respond to a prompt such as "Where is your home and what do you love about it?" Display: A video animates a series of maps, showing changing land use and infrastructure in the Columbia Plateau region of Oregon, Idaho and Washington, focused on the Wallowa country.* Visitors can see how traditional usage areas, access to natural resources, and the use of those resources were transformed by new concepts of land ownership, in the past 150 years. 2 Native Homelands Map of the Columbia Plateau region with tribal boundaries of Nez Perce, Umatilla, Walla Walla, Cayuse, Palouse, Piute, Bannock, etc. Federal treaties and reservations transform tribal boundaries • The treaty of 1855 and the establishment of the Umatilla, Nez Perce, and Yakima reservations. • Diminishment of the Nez Perce reservation with 1863 “thief treaty” (ratified 1867). • The boundaries of the short-lived Wallowa Reservation in 1873. States and counties are organized • Survey of the boundary line between Oregon and Washington in 1859. • The establishment of Baker and Union counties from Wasco County 1862-64. • The establishment of Wallowa County from Union County in 1887. Homesteaders arrive in the Wallowa Country • Extension of the Willamette Meridian (the principal survey meridian) into eastern Oregon and into the Wallowa in 1866-67. • Initial 160 homestead claims in Wallowa Co. from established filings of surveyed townships of Willamette Meridian. • Route of the first road into the Wallowa in 1872. Post offices and towns • Establishment of first post offices, Wallowa, Prairie Creek (1872-74). • The development of towns (Joseph 1879, Alder 1880, Enterprise 1887, Flora, Paradise, Wallowa, etc.). The timber industry • The arrival of USFS and boundaries of original forest reserves starting in 1904. • The route of the railroad in 1908. • The purchase of homesteads by timber companies (Palmer, Crossett, Nibley-Mimnaugh, etc.), and the routes of rail lines to remove timber. • The changing USFS reserves (Wallowa, Imnaha, Chesnimnus, etc.) • The changing timber company ownership (Palmer, Nibley-Mimnaugh, Eastern Oregon Lumber Co., Bates, Boise Cascade, etc. Preservation of undeveloped lands • The establishment of Wallowa Lake State Park (1941) • The establishment of the Eagle Cap Wilderness (1930 “Primitive area,” 1940 “Wilderness Area, 1964, National Wilderness Preservation System, The 1964 Wilderness Act) • The establishment of Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (1975) • Purchase of the east moraine by the Wallowa Land Trust (2020) *The Wallowa country is not the same as Wallowa County. The traditional ownership of the Wallowa band Nez Perce included more area than the land encompassed within the borders of Wallowa County. Principally, this would include the lower Grande Ronde River and Joseph Creek areas which are located in SE Washington State. In the Sahaptian language, the name of this region is walwa ma. 3 If the video includes narration, visitors will use headphones. In the small exhibit space, it will be preferable to augment the animation with supporting graphics and text. This video will introduce visitors to a series of exhibits that highlight and add more detail to the story of changing uses of land and resources, and their social and environmental effects. 1. Defending the Wallowa: 1855-1865 This exhibit will describe the basis of Native political economy with a focus on Tuekakas’ (old Chief Joseph) insistence that the Wallowa country be included in the lands retained by the Nez Perce under the 1855 Treaty at Walla Walla. In the oriGinal discussions at the Walla Walla council, the Wallowa was not included in the boundaries of the Nez Perce Reserve despite beinG aGreed to. “I have offered you more than your country is worth- more than you know how to count. How long will it take you to decide? If you say it is good the papers can be arranged tonight, tomorrow they can be signed; we would then give you these goods and you could go home with a good heart.” -General Joel Palmer addressing the assembled Nez Perce, Walla Walla, Umatilla, Cayuse, Palouse and Yakima people at the Walla Walla Treaty Council of 1855 Introductory quotes • TBD: quote from Tuekakas taken from 1855 council notes, quote from Palmer or Stevens taken from 1855 council notes, other? Commissioned Artwork • TBD: (some aspect of Nez Perce/CTUIR life in Wallowa County; perhaps a representation of the homes and large horse and cattle herds in the valley or catching and processing fish at Wallowa Lake or along the river). Images with captions • Treaty of 1855 (excerpt) • Gustavus Solon sketch of Elder Chief Joseph at Walla Walla Treaty council of 1855 • Historic photographs showing aspects of settlement in Grande Ronde Valley with gold discoveries in Baker City and Lewiston (1860-61) • Photograph of Elder Chief Joseph boundary markers (1865) • Map of Wallowa County showing Sahaptian place names, with description of seasonal round economy (pictures of cous, camas, deer, elk, salmon, etc.) • Historic photograph of tepees near Joseph • Cover of CTUIR book, They Are Not ForGotten Objects • Mortar and pestle, touchable 2. 1866-72: Unsettling the Wallowa These are critical years with a number of important events. The survey of the Wallowa in 1866-67 marks the beGinninG of direct conflict over land ownership in the Wallowa country. 4 The 1863 “Thief Treaty” reduces the size of the Nez Perce reservation and opens the Wallowa to settlement over the objection of the non-treaty, Wallowa band Nez Perce. In 1871 Tuekakas, the elder Chief Joseph, dies, A.C. Smith meets younG Chief Joseph and incorporates the Wallowa Road and BridGe company, settlers in the Grande Ronde Valley are in dispute amonGst themselves over homestead filinG claims, the settlers in Pendleton attempt to buy the Umatilla reservation and remove the Cayuse, Walla Walla and Umatilla to some other location (Wallowa is proposed as an option), and the first settlers beGin to move cattle into the Wallowa. In 1872 Smith beGins construction on the road and bridGe, Peo Peo Tahlikt warns him to stop. The first meetinG over the ownership of the Wallowa happens in La Grande on July 4 with younG Joseph, Ollokut, leaders from CTUIR, A.B. Meacham, James Slater and A.C. Smith. A series of councils and meetinGs occur in Lapwai and Wallowa between the Wallowa band Nez Perce and the Settlers. Introductory Quotes • TBD: Wallowa survey field notes, Mt. Sentinel quote, settler quotes, Joseph quotes? Commissioned artwork • TBD: Perhaps a painting (print, drawing, etc.) of the August 14, 1872 council between the settlers and Nez Perce at the forks of the Wallowa and Lostine Rivers, or the confrontation between A.C. Smith and Peo Peo Tahlikt at the Minam. Images with captions • Survey field notes (excerpt) • Plat maps from 1867 survey. • Mountain Sentinel newspaper article about first meeting over ownership of the Wallowa (July 6th, 1872 edition). • Photographs of some of the settlers and Natives (A.C. Smith, Findley, Tully, Masterson, Powers, Chief Joseph, Ollokut, Peo Peo Tahlikt, Eagle of the Light). • Wallowa Road and Bridge Co. incorporation papers. • Contemporary image showing what the old road looks like now. • Covers of books that provide more info: Grace Bartlett, H.R. Findley, Alvin Josephy, etc. 3. The Fight for the Wallowa: 1873-77 In this important period the Wallowa reservation is established and then quickly rescinded, more settlers move into the valley, John McCall establishes a fish packinG plant at Wallowa Lake, A.C. Smith, James Masterson and others winter more cattle on the Imnaha, Joseph Creek and Grande Ronde, Findley shoots and kills Wilatyah, Grande Ronde militias threaten war, the military from Walla Walla are called in to keep the peace, more councils. Joseph is finally ordered onto the reservation at Lapwai and then the war and retreat beGins. Introductory Quotes • TBD: Quotes from McCall letter, Soldier letter, A.C. Smith letter, Joseph quote Commissioned artwork 5 • TBD: one of the important conflicts: Nez Perce and McCall at Wallowa Lake, Nez Perce and Smith on the Imnaha, the killing of Wilatyah, the confrontation at Alder between Joseph and the settlers.