1 Introduction Frenchtown Historical Foundation master plan reflects the thoughtful and purposeful goals of the FHF and its desire to protect and Frenchtown Historical Foundation (FHF) is a non- enhance the Frenchtown Historic Site for the profit organization dedicated to the preservation long-term education and use of the public. The and interpretation of the grounds of the 1855 master plan demonstrates that the FHF understands Battle of Walla Walla (also known as the Battle of and has given careful consideration to the means, Frenchtown), the St. Rose of Lima Mission, and the methods, and costs of developing a historic site for St. Rose Cemetery. The St. Rose of Lima Mission cultural and educational purposes. and the St. Rose Mission Cemetery were established in 1876 in the heart of Frenchtown on a central Vision Statement portion of the historic battlefield, which was the largest military encounter between Euro-Americans The Frenchtown Historic Site will be a place of and Native Americans in Washington State’s history. respect for and understanding of our past, and The FHF is the organization responsible for the of stewardship for our future. It will honor the preparation of this master plan. sacredness of the ground where our ancestors lived and died, as well as the cultures they came from and Site Location and Purpose helped develop here. It will restore native vegetation, of the Master Plan and rehabilitate the river area. It will teach us for many generations to come. Site Location and General Description The Frenchtown Historic Site is an approximately 0 2 4 fifty-acre site located on US 12, eight miles west of Miles Walla Walla, Washington. The establishment of the 125 R C Frenchtown Historic Site as a protected place is the W A L L A W A L L A Y W A L L A W A L L A R result of efforts of the FHF and a broader group C O U N T Y D of Frenchtown Partners to protect the culturally WALLA WALLA and historically important cemetery, preserve the FRENCHTOWN site’s archaeological resources, restore it to native HISTORIC SITE L CR MIL vegetation, and provide enhancement that will help 12 COLLEGE WAL LA WALLA R PLACE COT visitors learn of the rich stories it holds of the ways TON WOO and interactions of a variety of cultures, including D CR Indian peoples, French-Canadians, Americans, WASHINGTON BIR P CH and Métis. OREGON I N CR E CR U M A T II L L A 11 Purpose of the Master Plan C O U N T Y The purpose of this master plan is to provide a MILTON-FREEWATER comprehensive guide to the development and operation of the Frenchtown Historic Site. The Vicinity Map Frenchtown Historic Site Master Plan 1 Otak, Inc. Frenchtown Historical Foundation Goals Project Objectives Guide Long-Term Development Restore the Site The master plan should provide a pathway to the A primary objective is to restore the site from efficient and cost-effective development of the agricultural use to a native plant community. This Frenchtown Historic Site. Site development will restoration effort is important for the interpretation very likely occur in stages as funding becomes of the natural history and for the long-term site available to design and construct improvements. sustainability through use of plants best adapted to One goal of the master plan is to guide the site conditions. orderly development of improvements so that Design a Sustainable Site basic amenities are provided first, with additional Sustainability goals will require creating an amenities added in a coordinated fashion that ecologically-balanced site that will function with neither precludes future options nor causes minimal input, requiring low amounts of energy otherwise unnecessary costs. Some flexibility in the for building maintenance, heating and cooling. phasing of development is included to account for Consideration of the regional climate and site funding opportunities that may arise. micro-climate will enhance the design and siting of Facilitate Historical Interpretation buildings to maximize natural methods of reducing Another important goal of the master plan is to energy costs and to create comfortable outdoor provide visitors with an educational experience spaces for visitors. allowing them to appreciate the historical and Define Archaeological Resource cultural significance of the site. Interpretive material Protection Measures should be placed logically at appropriate pre- The St. Rose of Lima Mission Cemetery perimeter determined nodes along the site trail system so that should be established and demarcated on the visitors are able to view what is being interpreted. ground. Likewise, the site of the St. Rose of Lima The interpretive material should include the region's Mission Church should be established from role in trade and the social integration of Indian available records and demarcated at the site. peoples and French Canadians, as contrasted with the experience of other Europeans in the area Plan Accessible Routes Throughout and region. Site and building accessibility generally means that Provide Safe and Enjoyable Visitor Experience persons of differing physical abilities are able to The Frenchtown Historic Site should be designed to be safe and accessible for all visitors. Protect Archaeological/Historical Resources Much of the Frenchtown Historic Site has been under active agricultural use since the 1800s. The types of agricultural crops grown have required plowing, disking, water line trenching, and other soil-disturbing activities. Most recently, the upper portion of the site has been planted to alfalfa and wheat, and the lower portion to onions. Nonetheless, site development activities that require substantial excavation should be avoided where possible, and the site disturbed only when Much of the Frenchtown Historic Site has been archaeological monitoring is available. under active agricultural use since the 1800s. Introduction 2 Frenchtown Historical Foundation experience the site in the same manner as fully-able Qualifications (RFQ) to firms with expertise in visitors. For the Frenchtown Historic Site, careful planning and design. According to the RFQ, the consideration of trail gradients and surface materials work to be performed by the consultant consists of is necessary to provide visitors with sight or mobility preparing a master plan for the establishment and challenges and impairments a means of accessing operation of an interpretive park on approximately each of the planned interpretive areas. If accessible 50 acres of land, including the site of the St. Rose grades and surfaces can not be provided to all of Lima Mission and Cemetery located on a key interpretive areas, a "like experience" will need to be portion of the grounds of the Battle of Walla Walla. created in accessible areas on site. The major elements to be addressed by the master plan, as specified by the RFQ, include: Plan for Potential Community Hall • An interpretive overlook The Frenchtown Hall is a private, non-profit, community gathering place in nearby Lowden. • Historic cemetery restoration In the future, the hall may need to be relocated • Location and schematic design of an interpretive and rebuilt. The Frenchtown Historic Site could center physically accommodate a new community hall • Location and design of the historic mission church and the associated parking and driveways required. foundation One of the goals of the master plan is to plan for • Walkways the possibility that the Frenchtown Hall could • Parking area be located on the historic site without detracting from the interpretive and preservation goals of • (Fishing facilities" deleted) the project. • Restoration of native vegetation • Site maintenance and operation Interpret Views From the Site The views to the surrounding landscape from the Two consulting companies, Otak, Inc. and James site include the Blue Mountain range and the Walla Stenkamp, Architect were asked by the FHF to Walla River. Those views are an important part of consider acting as a team for the master planning the visitor’s ability to comprehend the context of effort. Otak proposed to take the lead role with the surrounding regional landscape. Similarly, the assistance from James Stenkamp in a major location of other sites of historical significance, such consultant role. This was approved by the FHF. as the somewhat distant Whitman Mission, as well The consultant team worked closely with the FHF as the nearby location of the LaRoque cabin where on the development of the master plan. The team Chief Peo-peo-mox-mox of the Walla Wallas was also coordinated with FHF partners, including killed during the fighting, are important parts of the representatives from the Confederated Tribes of the historical interpretation. Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). Develop a Rich Interpretive Program Site Investigation and Analysis The interpretive program for the Frenchtown Site investigation for planning level work included Historic Site should include the Battle of gathering readily-available data about the physical Frenchtown, the St. Rose of Lima Mission Church, character of the site, including topographic the St. Rose Cemetery, early European settlement surveys, plat maps, soil surveys, zoning, and other history, and pre-settlement interpretation of the geographic information system data. Analysis of this lifeways of Indian peoples in the area. information included examining the opportunities and constraints for locating improvements and Overview of Master Planning Process amenities on the site. Consultant Selection Information Gathering In July of 2007 the FHF issued a Request for Information gathering for this master plan project Frenchtown Historic Site Master Plan 3 Otak, Inc. Frenchtown Historical Foundation relied heavily on documented resources as well as analysis presented was adequate. The planning knowledge of the FHF members – many of whom team has revised the draft document to address the have direct family ties to the land and mission comments of the FHF. that occupied the site. Other resources included published materials about early exploration and Public Input settlement.