WHITMAN NATIONAL MONUMENT WASHINGTON UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ].A. Krug,Secretary ·NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, Newton B. Drury, Director AMERICAN MISSIONARY INTEREST IN OREGON American missionary interest in the region west of the Rocky Mountains was spurred into Whitman action by the publication, in the New York Christian Advocate and Journal for March 1833, of an account of the visit of a delegation of NATIONAL Flathead and Nez Perce Indians to St. Louis, said to be seeking Christian teachers. The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign MONUMENT Missions, supported by the Congregational, Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, and the Asso- From 1836 until killed by the Indians in 1847, Marcus and Narcissa Whitman here ministered to the spiritual and physical needs of the Cayuse Indians and the immigrants of the Oregon Trail. AIILATPU, the site of the mission founded W in 1836 by Dr. Marcus Whitman and Narcissa Prentiss Whitman, his wife, was one of the noteworthy landmarks of the Oregon Trail. The work of the Whitmans there has classed them with the noblest of the pioneers who colonized the West. Through their indomi­ table spirit, energy, and determination, the American flag was carried to remote regions and thus contributed to our national expansion. Through their self-sacrifice and devotion to duty, the principles of Christianity were spread to a heathen people. By their patience and .ex­ ample, the rudiments of agriculture and letters were taught. Kind and generous, they offered a haven to the traveler. Their courage and faith were confirmed by the fact that they were will­ ing to give up their lives in order that an en­ lightened people might survive them. As hal­ lowed ground of the past, this mission site and its great grave, established a national monument by act of Congress in 1936, remind us of our debt to these pioneers. ciate Reformed Churches, found candidates and Miss Narcissa Prentiss, whom Whitman Fort Walla Walla, where she found a log lean-to and a new adobe mission house were built. A eager to enter this field . In 1835, Dr. Marcus married on February 18, 1836, were to assist had been erected. This was the first home of dwelling that functioned as an apartment house Whitman, a graduate physician who offered his him. white Americans in that region. The birth of for associates and travelers was also constructed. services as medical missionary, accompanied Alice Clarissa Whitman on March 14, 1837, Progress in spiritual matters, the primary MISSIONARY ACTIVITY AT gave added significance to this home, as she was objective of the missionaries, was slow. Reli­ Rev. Samuel Parker on a tour to determine the WAIILATPU potentialities of the region. After conferences the first American white girl born west of the gious worship, schools, and books were indif­ with Flathead and Nez Perce Indians at the fur Convoyed by the agents of the American Fur Rockies. Her accidental death by drowning in ferently accepted by most of the Indians who traders' Green River rendezvous, in what is now Co. and the Hudson's Bay Co., this little 1839 was one of the first tragedies of Waiilatpu. were less eager for spiritual teachings than the western Wyoming, these advance agents were missionary band reached the British post, Fort Waiilatpu means "Place of Rye Grass" in the early reports had implied. Conflicting reports convinced that the field was promising. It was Walla Walla, in the Columbia Valley, early in language of the Cayuse Indians, among whom from the Oregon Mission field and financial agreed that Parker should continue the explora­ September 1836. The journey of the Spaldings, Whitman chose to labor. Whitman at Waiilatpu difficulties of the American Board caused them tions while Whitman returned East to seek the Gray, and the newly-wed Whitmans, forms a and Spalding at Lapwai, near present-day Lewis­ in 1842 to order the closing of the stations at American Board's authority and assistance in colorful and significant chapter in the ever­ ton, Idaho, immediately set out to learn the Lapwai and Waiilatpu and the transfer of the the immediate establishment of a mission. thrilling story of the Oregon Trail. Mrs. natives' language, and their wives ably assisted Whitmans to Tshimakain, near what is today Approval was promptly granted and arrange­ Whitman and Mrs. Spalding were the first them in conducting Indian schools. The lan­ Spokane. As a result of these unwelcome in­ ments were soon completed whereby Rev. American women to arrive in the Oregon guage was reduced to writing; and the books structions, Whitman volunteered at a meeting and Mrs. Henry H. Spalding, W. H. Gray, country by the overland route. The mission­ printed at Lapwai on the missionary press of the Oregon missionaries in late September aries' wagon, reduced to a cart, also rolled into brought to Oregon in 1839 were the first to return East and present their case before the history, being the first to be taken as far west as example of the "Art preservative of all arts" in American Board officials. Fort Boise. After a brief visit at Fort Vancouver, the Pacific Northwest. Whitman's winter journey, which began on The first printing press the men ascended the Columbia to establish Whitman soon realized that the teaching of October 2, 1842, was a heroic and historic ride. in the Northwest, used to their stations, while the women enjoyed the agriculture and industrial pursuits was an es­ With a sole companion, A. L. Lovejoy, he fol­ print books at Lapwai luxuries of civilization at Fort Vancouver, hos­ sential preliminary to the Christianizing of these lowed a route which took them by way of Fort Mission for the Indians pitably offered by Dr. Mcloughlin, the chief Indians, who were so much "on the wing" in Hall, Idaho; Taos, N. Mex.; and Bent's Fort, at Waiilatpu. (Courtesy factor of the Hudson's Bay Co. On December their seasonal expeditions to buffalo country, Colo. Despite blizzards and icy streams, of the Oregon Historical 10, 1836, Mrs. Whitman was escorted to her camas meadows, and salmon fisheries. In the Whitman reached St. Louis, Mo., and pro­ Society.) new home at Waiilatpu, about 25 miles east of course of time a grist mill, a blacksmith shop, ceeded to Washington, New York, and Boston, where he appeared before the sponsors of his mission, who rescinded the unwelcome orders. Rye grass still grows on the mission site, which the The Whitman mission site today. Looking southwest, the trees in right center are on the site On his return trip, accompanied by his nephew, Indians called Waiilatpu, "Place of Rye Grass." of the "Mission House." The dikes of the millpond are to the right ofthe horses in left center. Perrin, he joined the immigration of 1843 and rendered much assistance to the immigrants, serving as pilot on the latter part of the journey. A DEPOT ON THE OREGON TRAIL Although Waiilatpu had served as a d<;pot of supplies for earlier travelers, succeeding caravans sought out more direct routes which bypassed the mission. Needy and destitute immigrants, however, continued to seek the hospitality of­ fered by the Whitmans. In November 1847, the mission community, including recently arrived immigrants, totaled 74 persons, besides Indians. THE MASSACRE Protestant missionary work among the Ore­ gon Indians was abruptly terminated by the Indian outbreak that began at Waiilatpu on cloned by the American Board of Commissioners November 29, 1847. On occasions Dr. Whitman for Foreign Missions. Meanwhile, Joe Meek had WHITMAN NATIONAL MONUMENT had been treated insolently by the Indians. At been sent to Washington, D. C. , with news of WASHINGTON times Dr. and Mrs. Whitman were threatened, the tragedy and an appeal for aid. By the con­ and mission property was destroyed. This in­ gressional act of 1848 the United States Govern­ Note: All distances given are from gratitude was not evidenced by all of the In­ ment extended its jurisdiction to the region, Monument Headquarters dians, ':iowever, and when it was proposed to which became the Oregon Territory. abandon Waiilatpu, Dr. Whitman refrained THE MISSION SITE TODAY from doing so because of the friendly disposi­ tion of the majority of the tribe. Some 45 acres of the mission site were estab­ Nevertheless, Indian jealousy and distrust lished as a national monument by congressional were increased by the ever growing number of action in 1936. In addition to the great grave westward-bound American immigrants and by and the monument on the hill, constructed and stories of the white man's domination, as told dedicated in 1897, archeologists have recently by eastern Indians and mixed bloods engaged determined the sites of Waiilatpu's buildings. in the fur trade. HOW TO REACH THE MONUMENT Causes of the violence, which resulted in the death of the Whitmans and 12 of their fellow Whitman National Monument is located 6 men, can be traced to the differences in the miles west of Walla Walla and 3 miles west of habits and beliefs of the races contending for College Place, Wash. It is reached directly by the land. The violence was precipitated by an county road from these communities or by a epidemic of measles attributed to the immigra­ connecting road three-quarters of a mile south tion of1847. Among the Indian children, who from United States Highway No. 410. had built up little or no immunity to white PUBLIC SERVICE AND FACILITIES men's diseases, the malady proved virulent. TO VISITORS Even those died whom Dr. Whitman attended, and it was rumored that he was poisoning the Whitman National Monument is open daily Indians to make way for the whites.