All Aboard! 150 Years of the Rawhide Railroad
Fort Walla Walla Museum and Baker Boyer Bank invite you to mark the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad with an admission-free, fun-packed day at the museum.
Join us for a day of fun, food, and community spirit!
The museum will open at 10:00 a.m., with La Monarca food trucks arriving at 11:00 a.m. There will be a Living History walking tour of the grounds, where historical characters will share their insight on the railroad and its creator, Dr. D.S. Baker.
The anniversary ceremony is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. The first 1,000 guests will receive free food vouchers up to $10 per person, commemorative coins, and tote bags.
Selected student project entries will be displayed and honored at the celebration, and children can ride a mini train around the museum’s grounds from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., courtesy of Costume Creation’s “Chugga Chugga Choo Choo” train.
Community organization partners will also be present, offering information and activity booths that will excite everyone in the family. These include Northwest Grain Growers, Dayton Historical Depot, Children’s Museum of Walla Walla, Kirkman House, and Columbia Rail. Learn more about Dr. D.S. Baker and his “Rawhide Railroad,” which connected the agricultural powerhouse of Walla Walla to the world.
Columbia Rail will be bringing several pieces of locomotive history to share, including two cabooses, the historic Abraham Lincoln business car, and the SW1 #104 (manufactured in 1939 and one of the oldest in-service diesel locomotives).
Please check our Facebook page for the most up-to-date information. To learn more about the Blue Mountain, check our blog. If you would like to support our preservation efforts, you may make a donation through our website.
Schedule of Events
All Day Free admission, kids activities, community partner tables
10 a.m.–12 p.m. Columbia Rail train tours
10 a.m.–2 p.m. Living History Walking Tour
11 a.m.–2 p.m. Chugga Chugga Choo Choo mini-train rides
11 a.m.–2 p.m. La Monarca food trucks
Noon Railroad Songs with Glenn Morrison & Jimmye Turner
1 p.m. Anniversary Ceremony
3 p.m.–5 p.m. Columbia Rail train tours
Thank you to Baker Boyer Bank for sponsoring this event.