Bror Sornson, Follower of W.W. Davies Commune: Living History Presentation
Bror Sornson, played by his great-great-grandson Ron Klicker, will describe his family’s immigration from Sweden to Utah, where they became followers of Joseph Morris, a new prophet challenging Brigham Young.
After Morris and his followers were attacked by authorities and Morris was killed, many went into exile and in 1867 some, including Sorenson, followed William W. Davies to the outskirts of Walla Walla. Here, Davies proclaimed a piece of land on Scenic Loop near what is now Mormon Grade a consecrated place, where he established what he called “the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth” and revealed himself as the incarnation of the Holy Spirit.
In 1868, Davies proclaimed his newborn son the incarnation of Jesus Christ, and in 1869 identified another son as God the Father. After a diphtheria epidemic struck the religious commune in 1879 and his wife and sons died, several of his followers sued Davies in Walla Walla County Superior Court for the return of their pooled property and compensation for the labor they contributed to the community. After a trial, Davies’ land was sold to satisfy the judgment awarded against him, and the community was ultimately dissolved. Some, including Sornson, remained faithful to their prophet throughout their lives.
Living History performances take place on the Museum’s grounds or inside the Grand Hall. Visitors are encouraged to question re-enactors about their experiences and views, and visit the Museum’s many displays and historic buildings.
Yen Tom, Chinese gardener: Living History Presentation
Yen Tom lived in the Walla Walla Valley in the late 1800’s as a farmer.
Yen Tom will be portrayed by Galen Tom.
The Baker-Boyer Four: Living History Presentation
In this performance Dorsey Baker, Sarah Boyer and husband John Boyer are interviewed by journalist Nellie Day. They reflect on the early days of their mercantile business and the evolution the Baker Boyer Bank.
David Douglas, naturalist: Living History Presentation
David Douglas was a Scottish botanist who traveled North America, collecting and documentation the botanical life of the Oregon Territory. Oregon's state tree, the Douglas Fir, is named after him.
Douglas came to the U.S. as a botanical collector for the Royal Horticultural Society, making his trip in 1823; he later made several other scientific journeys, returning to the North American Far West frequently. He introduced roughly 50 new trees and shrubs and about 100 herbaceous plants into England during his career.
Ed Burlingame, ditch digger and developer: Living History Presentation
In 1893, Burlingame arrived in Walla Walla to inspect the plans for an ambitious irrigation project and stayed to dig the ditch that bears his name today. The Burlingame Ditch turned more than 5,000 acres of sagebrush into productive farmland. More than one hundred years after its completion, the Burlingame Ditch still conveys water by gravity within its earthen banks.
Ed Burlingame is portrayed by Tom Williams.
F. P. Allen, early architect: Living History Presentation
Come meet one of Walla Walla's early architects, FP Allen. Listen to him tell of the challenges of building with a vision, of making a city out of a settlement, and the importance of a community commitment. This allowed him to build a proper fire house, a prestigious manor home (Kirkman House), and a combination livery stable and opera house. He will also talk about the tragedy associated with that opera house and the controversy surrounding it. This self proclaimed great-grandson of a true American patriot will talk of the transitioning of Walla Walla from a settlement that supported an Army fort to a thriving city that was meant to be a capitol.
Fred Stine, blacksmith and builder: Living History Presentation
Fred Stine represents one of Walla Walla's best “rags to riches” stories, he built the largest brick hotel in the Washington Territory and set up a lucrative blacksmith shop serving the needs of gold miners, Oregon Trail pioneers, and the military at Fort Walla Walla.
Sam Black, Hudson’s Bay Company clerk: Living History Presentation
Sam Black was the master of Fort Nez Perce at the mouth of the Walla Walla River from 1825 to 1830. He was 46 years old when he assumed charge of the Walla Walla post. He first came to North America from Scotland around 1810 and eventually joined the North West Company.
When the Hudson’s Bay and North West Companies merged in 1821, changing the post’s name to Fort Walla Walla, Black was not immediately rehired. He was eventually reinstated as a clerk. Because of him, we have a “vocabulary” of the Cayuse language that was the beginning of all later efforts to revive an extinct language; historians and anthropologists also gleaned other cultural and ethnographic information about regional Indian people from Black’s writings.
Sam Black is portrayed by Tom Williams.
Joseph Meek, trapper, lawman and politician: Living History Presentation
Mountain man Joe Meek first entered the Oregon Country in 1829 and he settled in the Willamette Valley. After the Whitman massacre of 1847 Meek made his famous winter ride to Washington, D.C., to plead for U.S. troops and a government presence in Oregon. As a result, he was appointed U.S. Marshal for the new Oregon Territory.
Maria Whitman, wife of first mayor: Living History Presentation
In 1862 Mrs. Whitman came to Walla Walla to join her husband E.B. Whitman, who had been recently elected as the city’s first mayor. She was born in Portland, Maine, in 1828, the daughter of a lawyer, and was educated in the Boston area where she met her future husband. The couple married and had two sons.
In 1850 Mr. Whitman traveled west to seek his fortune in the California gold fields. Mrs. Whitman remained in Boston to raise her children until E. B. had chosen a new location for the family. After 12 years, the couple reunited in Walla Walla where they were active in civic affairs and resided for the rest of their lives. Mrs. Whitman will share music of her time with Museum visitors.
Maria Greenwood Whitman is portrayed by Barbara Clark.
Lettice Millican Clark Reynolds, pioneer and leader: Living History Presentation
Lettice Millican was born in 1830, the oldest of 12 children. In 1843 her family headed west with a wagon train carrying 1,000 settlers. After her family settled in the Willamette Valley, she married Ransom Clark, who in 1855 obtained a 640-acre donation claim along Yellowhawk Creek.
Lettice and her husband came to Walla Walla to prove up their claim in 1855 but were driven out by the Indian War of that year. Ransom Clark died in Portland in 1859, and Lettice returned to Walla Walla the same year to complete their cabin, which is now located in the Museum’s Pioneer Village. She was the first white woman to reside in the Walla Walla Valley after the Whitman tragedy, later marrying mill owner Almos Reynolds and becoming a public benefactor who made substantial gifts to Whitman College.
Lettice Millican Clark Reynolds is portrayed by Pam Myers.
Edward Ball, dragoon sergeant: Living History Presentation
Living History performances take place in the Museum’s pioneer village on Myra Road, weather permitting, otherwise in the Grand Hall. Visitors are encouraged to question re-enactors about their experiences and views, and visit the Museum’s many displays and historic buildings.
Cushing Eells, Protestant missionary: Living History Presentation
Pioneer missionaries Cushing and Myra Eells arrived in the Valley in 1838. They settled among the Spokane Indians until the tragedy at the Whitman's mission in 1847, when they moved to the Willamette Valley.
They returned to the Walla Walla Valley at the close of the Indian wars in 1859 to reclaim the mission grounds at Waiilatpu, the Whitman Mission site. There, Cushing decided to found an educational institution, the Whitman Seminary. In 1883, the institution became Whitman College as a result of the Eells' efforts, which continued throughout their lives.
Reverend Eells is portrayed by Whitman College professor Rogers Miles.
Father J.B.A. Brouillet, Catholic Missionary: Living History Presentation
French-Canadian priest John Baptiste Abraham Brouillet, a Québéçoise, came to the Walla Walla Valley in September 1847, just a few weeks before the incident at Whitman Mission. He established his own mission about 25 miles south of the Whitmans shortly after he arrived. Although Father Brouillet and Marcus Whitman had some disagreements when Catholic priests first came to the valley, they nevertheless developed a friendship.
Brouillet was on his way to Whitman Mission to verify a rumor of a terrible occurrence and found the Whitmans’ bodies, along with eleven others, killed on the scene. A handful of Indian warriors responsible for the slayings were still present. When he arrived, Joseph Stanfield, a Métis, was preparing the bodies for burial, and Brouillet helped inter them. Brouillet also helped arrange the release of 60 captives taken at the Mission.
Father Brouillet went on to become a pioneer figure in Walla Walla’s Catholic institutions, purchasing the land for St. Vincent’s Academy in 1863 and founding Saint Patrick’s School for boys in 1865. He also founded Des La Salles school for boys, which later became Desales High School.
Father Brouillet is portrayed by ski instructor, woodworker, and retired teacher, Jeannot Poirot.
E.B. Whitman, Walla Walla's first mayor: Living History Presentation
Dan Clark, one of the originators of the Living History’s successful presentations, breathes life into Walla Walla’s first Mayor, E.B. Whitman. He’s played this favorite character for many a season. You won’t want to miss his polished delivery to get a sense of Walla Walla’s interesting history as the oldest city in Washington state.
Josephine Wolfe, pioneer madam: Living History Presentation
Fort Walla Walla Museum brings back a favorite Living History character, turn-of-the-century madam Josephine Wolfe, the famed Walla Walla brothel owner and philanthropist.
In 1859, Wolfe, a 23-year-old German woman established one of Walla Walla’s first and longest-running brothels at 11 W. Alder Ave. With miners and speculators pouring through town, there was no shortage of clientele.
“Dutch Jo” lived in her business parlor, where she remained until her death in 1909. Described as charming and capable, she also had a reputation as a ruthless businesswoman.
She insisted that her women sex workers have proper health care. The women kept half their earnings, and the other half went to the house. Wolfe contributed generously to local charitable causes, and she provided a place for sick and injured firefighters to recuperate. She was known to have purchased cemetery plots at Mountain View Cemetery in Walla Walla for both firefighters and prostitutes, that they might have decent burials when they died.
Her business did well. City records show she paid county taxes in 1908 of $11,464. There are no photographs or portraits of Wolfe available, for her will stipulated destruction of all such images.
Henry Villard, president of the Northern Pacific Railway: Living History Presentation
Come with us on a steam-powered living history performance at our museum. The reenactment embodies the legendary Henri Villard “The Comet,” a pioneering railroad financier. Prepare to be mesmerized as Villard brings to life the incredible tale of immense accomplishment - the building of investments required for the construction of the Northwest, known as The Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company. Listen in when Villard recounts the moment when his dream became a reality, linking East to West with steel tracks and steamboats. Don't miss the chance to experience the thrill of Henri Villard's vision and immerse yourself in the captivating railroad history that shaped the Northwest.
After the performance, visitors can explore our museum's historic locomotive exhibit about The Blue Mountain, locomotive #4. This exhibit will leave you in awe as you bear witness to the magnificence of historic locomotives that powered the growth of our nation, transporting goods and people across vast distances.
Villard is portrayed by retired Whitman College faculty member Clark Colahan.
Capt. O.H.P. Taylor, dragoon at Steptoe’s Battle: Living History Presentation
A West Point graduate from the East Coast, Captain Taylor become versed in the ways of the West after fighting Indian tribes for whom it turns out he had sympathy. He eventually was stationed at Fort Walla Walla with his young family. He was one of the unfortunate soldiers tapped to go with Lt. Col. Edward J. Steptoe north of the Snake River to negotiate with the tribes who had stated they did not want a treaty. Come hear the tale of bravery in a harrowing time.
Living History presents Capt. Oliver Hazard Perry Taylor portrayed by David Bryant.
Richard Bogle, Jamaican immigrant, barber and businessman: Living History Presentation
Richard Bogle was born in Jamaica in 1835 where his parents were slaves. When he was 12 years old, he stowed away on a ship to New York during an anti-slavery campaign, and traveled to Oregon with a wagon train at age 16. When he was 22, he opened a restaurant and barbershop in Deadwood, California, where he also did some gold mining. On January 1, 1863, the day the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln, Bogle married America Waldo. The couple moved to Walla Walla, where he started a barbershop on Main Street, making him the first black businessman in Walla Walla on “proprietor of the tonsorial parlors at No.3 Second Street.” They had eight children and owned a 200-acre farm near Dixie.
Walla Walla was a segregated city when the Bogles arrived. African Americans could not get rooms at a hotel or eat in public dining rooms. Mr. Bogle often allowed African Americans who were temporarily in town to live in the rear of his shop, where they could keep warm and cook an occasional meal. Mrs. Bogle was said to be “a lady of estimable character, noted for her deeds of charity to the poor and suffering.”
He was a co-founder of the Walla Walla Savings and Loan Association.
Richard Bogle is portrayed by Earl Gooding Jr.
Herbert Nicholls, the youngest WSP inmate: Living History Presentation
Herbert Niccolls, Jr. was the youngest inmate ever incarcerated at the Washington State Penitentiary. He was born into a troubled family, witnessed his father kill a neighbor lady, caused problems in foster homes, and was sentenced to the Idaho State Industrial School. When his grandmother gained custody, she often beat him and deprived him of food "because of his sins.”
At age 12, the boy ran away from her home wearing ragged overalls and a stolen gun. Cold and hungry that night, he broke into a local store to steal cigarettes, gum, and cash. When the local sheriff discovered his hiding place behind a cabinet and called him out, his blindly-aimed shot killed the beloved lawman almost instantly.
What followed was a drama that would gain national attention, including a campaign supported by Father Flanagan of Boys Town, who declared, “There’s no such thing as a bad boy.” His story included years in the penitentiary, a diploma from Walla Walla High School, and an eventual career as an accounting executive for Twentieth Century Fox.
The aging Mr. Niccolls will be portrayed by Chuck Hindman.
William Tye, assistant railroad conductor: Living History Presentation
William Tye is an assistant conductor working for Dorsey Baker's Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad. Tye will be discussing his job working on the locomotives, including how these narrow-gauge steam engines operated and how they were configured (have you ever heard of a platform of dogs being used in place of a cowcatcher?). He will also give some history on the local railroad, how it was brilliantly financed by Dr. Baker, and what it took to bring the railroad to Walla Walla. He'll also describe how the track itself was constructed and explain exactly what "Rawhide Railroad" refers to, clearing up some myths and legends surrounding Dr. Baker's famous enterprise.
During their visit, guests can see one of the locomotives William Tye would have operated. The Blue Mountain is the last existing narrow-gauge engine from Dorsey Baker's WW&CRR. If the weather permits, William Tye will show visitors the train's components and describe the missing pieces that would have allowed the train to operate.
The marvelous Gary Lentz will be portraying William Tye.
Merry Christmas!
Fort Walla Walla Museum is closed Thursday, December 25th. We will reopen on December 26th.
Have a joyous holiday season!
Carmelita Colon: A Living History Production
A Vindication for the Unwritten – or How to Write Yourself Back Into History
written by Ana Maria Campoy
Meet Carmelita Colon. Born in Mexico, she arrived in Walla Walla, Washington Territory, with her husband Sebastian in the 1860s. For several years, they ran a mule train to the gold mines in Idaho. Later selling tamales and running a Mexican restaurant in Walla Walla.
What was life like in Walla Walla in the late 1800s? What was Carmelita’s life like? Might she have seen women’s rights pioneers Susan B. Anthony and Abigail Scott Duniway speak about suffrage when they visited Walla Walla in 1871?
Based on extensive research, Ana Maria Campoy has created a vibrant portrait of Carmelita Colon, from her childhood in Mexico to her migration to Washington. She has brought this early Walla Walla resident to life and written her back into history.
The program is part of KCPT’s Washington Women’s History Tour: Suffrage Lecture Series – a dramatic chronology of the suffrage/women’s rights movement across Washington State with a special focus on under-represented voices and little-known stories of BIPOC women.
Haunted Halls of History, a Living History Radio Performance
The “What If” radio is airing again!
For those of you who remember the fun (and frights) of last year’s “The War of the Worlds” performance, you are in for a treat! The What-If radio will be brought back to broadcasting life once again.
History is populated with 'ghosts'. Ghosts who created the past but are no longer physically among us. On the "Haunted Halls of History" we will resurrect a few of our local 'ghosts' and share them with our listening audience.
Tune in to KFWW, 1859 on your radio dial, and listen in.
Enjoy light refreshments, included with admission. Tickets start at $10 for Fort Walla Walla Museum guests and $5 for Museum members.
Captain Adam Badeau, Union Army officer & diplomat: Living History Presentation
Born in New York City on December 29, 1831, Badeau later became a clerk in New York City's Street Department.
In 1862, Badeau joined the Union Army during the American Civil War and was commissioned as a captain. Badeau joined the staff of Ulysses S. Grant as a brevet lieutenant colonel and military secretary in 1864.
During this time, Badeau and Grant became close friends. Badeau took part in the Wilderness and Appomattox campaigns and received promotion to brevet colonel. He remained on Grant's staff until 1869 and left the Army for disability; he held the permanent rank of captain and the brevet rank of brigadier general.
Among Badeau’s talents, he studied law and attained admission to the bar in 1855. He was a prolific author of both fiction and non-fiction, as well as authoring newspaper columns and magazine articles. Later in life, Badeau assisted Grant with the research, fact-checking, and editing of his autobiography.
Stan Southern will portray A. Badeau.
William McBean, Ft. Walla Walla Chief Trader: Living History Presentation
William McBean was born in Canada about 1806 and came to the Walla Walla region in 1846. He became the chief trader in charge of the Hudson’s Bay Company fort at the time of the Whitman killing in 1847. He left Fort Walla Walla in 1855 during the Indian Wars and later returned to the region with his Indian wife and children. McBean continued to reside in Walla Walla and was active in assisting various Catholic institutions until his death in 1892.
McBean will be bringing his display of trade goods to share with visitors. Questions are always appreciated.
What Lies Beneath: Victorian Layers
A Walla Walla Sweet Onion may have many layers, but a smartly dressed Victorian-era genteel lady may have more. Some of you have heard described the many layers of clothing a woman of the 1880s had to wear to be considered properly dressed. Good clothing cannot be too revealing. Fashion and function both feature an appearance in this ensemble. Come watch as the layers are thoroughly explained as they are removed down to intimate garments. Of course, the disrobing will be done in the most modest and ladylike manner and is guaranteed to be a family-friendly performance. Join us for an hour of entertainment and education about the delicate nature of Victorian-era modesty and style.
Historical re-enactor, Living History performer, and historical fashion maven Diane Somerville will lead this educational Living History event. She is known for her past performances portraying Walla Walla’s Madame, Josephine Wolfe, locally known as Dutch Jo.
Living History: Mary Anne Walla Walla, daughter of Peo Peo Mox Mox
Mary Anne Walla Walla will make her debut at Fort Walla Walla Museum on Sunday, September 7th. The daughter of Peo Peo Mox Mox, the head chief of the Walla Walla tribe, Mary Anne will speak of her family.
Mary Anne Walla Walla is portrayed by Judith Fortney
Living History: Sister Catherine, superior of St. Vincent's Academy
When Mother Joseph and Sister Catherine arrived in Walla Walla in late 1863, they found a small town of only 50 families. These Sisters of Providence had great vision, though. “That place promises to become important,” wrote Mother Joseph.
Edmund Barron, a local banker, donated two blocks of land for a hospital, academy, and institutions. A year later, St. Vincent Academy opened. There, the sisters taught school and took in women boarders, while visiting the sick and homebound. It was to be a great undertaking, the Walla Walla Statesman noted the sisters had “hardly a dollar of their own to purchase the first brick.” But the townspeople rallied.
Portrayed by Susan Matley.
Living History: Grace Isaacs, fundraiser and suffragist
Meet Grace Isaacs, Walla Walla's early local leader, suffragist, and all-around go-getter. She organized the Women's Park Club, whose campaign financed our Pioneer Park. (If you have questions about who really designed the park, Grace can set you straight. It might not be who you think.) Wondering about the history of women's suffrage in Walla Walla? Grace will tell you about that time Susan B. Anthony visited here and was refused a place to stay the night.
Grace will look back and recount the early goings-on at the Women's Reading Club and the Art Club. She was a world traveler and will share some of her experiences with you. She'll also have valuable business advice to share, having been an entrepreneur herself. Get the lowdown from Grace Isaacs, one of Walla Walla's most interesting women.
Grace Isaacs is portrayed by Susan Monahan.
Sergeant F. C. Gurney, 4th US Cavalry: Living History Presentation
After decades of conflicts between the military and the Indian People in the Willamette Valley, a period of peace came to Fort Walla Walla in the 1890s. The life of a soldier changed from action packed old western skirmishes into a mundane daily routine of parade drills, horse training, guard duty, kitchen duty, and base clean up.
Sergeant F.C. Gurney can tell you exactly what it means when his superiors give the order to do yet another day of parade drills and cleaning the stables. Those are the kinds of things soldiers do as part of the 4th Cavalry stationed at Fort Walla Walla. Go ahead and ask Sgt. Gurney what he likes to do or where he likes to go on his time off. Thanks to a few bad apples amongst the ranks, his options might be limited.
The year was 1898 and Sgt. Gurney sat by the bonfire, casting long shadows on the hillside near Fort Walla Walla, as he recounted old tales of bravery and camaraderie. With a twinkle in his eye and his warm voice carrying the weight of years of soldiering, he painted vivid portraits of his fellow 4th Cavalry soldiers, capturing the spirit of their shared experiences on the rugged frontier.
Sergeant F.C. Gurney is portrayed by Living History re-enactor and history enthusiast Delbert Draper.
F.P. Allen, firefighter: Living History Presentation
Come meet one of Walla Walla's early architects and firefighters, FP Allen. Listen to him tell of the challenges of building with a vision, of making a city out of a settlement, and the importance of a community commitment. This allowed him to build a proper fire house, a prestigious manor home (Kirkman House), and a combination livery stable and opera house.
He will also talk about the tragedy associated with that opera house and the controversy surrounding it. This self proclaimed great-grandson of a true American patriot will talk of the transitioning of Walla Walla from a settlement that supported an Army fort to a thriving city that was meant to be a capitol.
F. P. Allen is portrayed by Delbert Draper.
Isaac Stevens, Washington Territory’s first governor: Living History Presentation
Fort Walla Walla Museum has invited Isaac Stevens, Washington Territory’s first governor.
Stevens was a controversial figure during his lifetime as well as after. According to historian Kent Richards, “[He] was most often the center of activity, providing leadership, speaking out orders or ideas, or creating controversy. He was a man either loved or hated.”
During his tenure as territorial governor, he believed that he could successfully quell problems between white settlers and the Indian people by negotiating treaties. The treaties of 1855 and 1856 with the Yakima, Umatilla, Nez Perce, Walla Walla, and Cayuse Indians were negotiated in Walla Walla. While meant to establish important rights for Indian people and help maintain their traditions and culture, these treaties led to territory outside of reservations being populated by white settlers from the eastern part of the United States.
Governor Isaac Stevens will be portrayed by Ron Klicker. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions to our Living History reenactors.
Living History: Lettice Millican Clark Reynolds, pioneer settler and community leader
Lettice Millican was born in 1830, the oldest of 12 children. In 1843 her family headed west with a wagon train carrying 1,000 settlers. After her family settled in the Willamette Valley, she married Ransom Clark, who in 1855 obtained a 640-acre donation claim along Yellowhawk Creek.
Lettice and her husband came to Walla Walla to prove up their claim in 1855 but were driven out by the Indian War of that year. Ransom Clark died in Portland in 1859, and Lettice returned to Walla Walla the same year to complete their cabin, which is now located in the Museum’s Pioneer Village. She was the first white woman to reside in the Walla Walla Valley after the Whitman tragedy, later marrying mill owner Almos Reynolds and becoming a public benefactor who made substantial gifts to Whitman College.
Lettice Millican Clark Reynolds is portrayed by Pam Myers.
Living History: John Boyer, banker and businessman
John Boyer, Dorsey Baker’s brother-in-law, will be talking about his life, his career, and several of his entrepreneurial peers who took advantage of the tremendous opportunities available during Walla Walla’s boomtown years.
In 1849 Boyer opened a store in Sonora, California, the Queen City of the California goldfields, which he operated until the 1860s. He came to Walla Walla in 1862 and went into a mercantile business with Dorsey Baker, located on the corner of Second and Main. Since Baker and Boyer both had reputations for being honest businessmen, miners from the Idaho gold fields would leave their gold in the mercantile safe. This was the start of the Baker Boyer Bank enterprise, which officially opened in November 1869.
John Boyer is portrayed by Dick Phillips.
Living History: F.P. Allen, early architect
Come meet one of Walla Walla's early architects, FP Allen. Listen to him tell of the challenges of building with a vision, of making a city out of a settlement, and the importance of a community commitment. This allowed him to build a proper fire house, a prestigious manor home (Kirkman House), and a combination livery stable and opera house. He will also talk about the tragedy associated with that opera house and the controversy surrounding it. This self proclaimed great-grandson of a true American patriot will talk of the transitioning of Walla Walla from a settlement that supported an Army fort to a thriving city that was meant to be a capitol.
Portrayed by Delbert Draper
Living History: William McBean, Hudson's Bay Company trader
William McBean was born in Canada about 1806 and came to the Walla Walla region in 1846. He became the chief trader in charge of the Hudson’s Bay Company fort at the time of the Whitman Massacre in 1847. He left Fort Walla Walla in 1855 during the Indian Wars and later returned to the region with his Indian wife and children. McBean continued to reside in Walla Walla and was active in assisting various Catholic institutions until his death in 1892.
McBean will be bringing his display of trade goods to share with visitors.
Living History: William McBean, Hudson's Bay Company trader
William McBean was born in Canada about 1806 and came to the Walla Walla region in 1846. He became the chief trader in charge of the Hudson’s Bay Company fort at the time of the Whitman Massacre in 1847. He left Fort Walla Walla in 1855 during the Indian Wars and later returned to the region with his Indian wife and children. McBean continued to reside in Walla Walla and was active in assisting various Catholic institutions until his death in 1892.
McBean will be bringing his display of trade goods to share with visitors.
Living History: Lettice Millican Clark Reynolds, pioneer settler and community leader
Lettice Millican was born in 1830, the oldest of 12 children. In 1843 her family headed west with a wagon train carrying 1,000 settlers. After her family settled in the Willamette Valley, she married Ransom Clark, who in 1855 obtained a 640-acre donation claim along Yellowhawk Creek.
Lettice and her husband came to Walla Walla to prove up their claim in 1855 but were driven out by the Indian War of that year. Ransom Clark died in Portland in 1859, and Lettice returned to Walla Walla the same year to complete their cabin, which is now located in the Museum’s Pioneer Village. She was the first white woman to reside in the Walla Walla Valley after the Whitman tragedy, later marrying mill owner Almos Reynolds and becoming a public benefactor who made substantial gifts to Whitman College.
Lettice Millican Clark Reynolds is portrayed by Pam Myers.
1862's Maria Whitman rejoined her husband the first mayor of Walla Walla when it was a wild town
Maria Whitman must have been a very patient woman after her husband had gone gold hunting in California, leaving her on the East Coast with two sons for some 12 years. Once resettled in Walla Walla while her husband handled the duties of the first mayor of the rather wild town, she willl share her experiences and welcomes questions.
Sgt. F.C. Gurney, 4th U.S. Calvary presented by Living History
Sgt. F.C. Gurney, 4th U.S. Cavalry rides to Pioneer Village to tell you what it was like during those days.
Sam Black, clerk for the famed Hudson's Bay Company, tells what went on in the files
Living History presents experienced renactor Tom Williams as a well-versed company clerk. One cannot live in the Pacific Northwest without knowing about the outsize influence the Hudson’s Bay company had on the territory. Come get the story behind the stories
Living History End of the Year Party
As another year passes, our Living History Company will end the 2023 season with its annual End of the Year Party. Several Living History performers will share the spotlight, telling guests short stories about the times in which they lived. Visitors will be able to mingle with the living history performers and enjoy light refreshments as part of the program.
Living History: William Tye, assistant conductor for the WW&CR Railroad
William Tye is an assistant conductor working for Dorsey Baker's Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad. Tye will be talking about his job working on the locomotives, how these narrow-gauge steam engines ran, and how they were configured (have you ever heard of a platform of dogs being used in place of a cowcatcher?). During their visit, guests can see one of the locomotives William Tye would have operated. The Blue Mountain is the last existing narrow-gauge engine from Dorsey Baker's WW&CRR. If weather permits, William Tye will show visitors the train's components and describe the missing pieces that would have allowed the train to operate.
Living History: Josephine Wolfe and the red light district of Walla Walla
Better known as Dutch Jo, Josephine Wolfe was a competent businesswoman who took pride in performing an important service in her community. She came to Walla Walla around 1860 and ran two upscale establishments for gentlemen. She insisted on a high degree of decorum from her employees. She provided them with regular health checkups and good clothing that was fashionable and not too revealing. She was also a benefactress in the community, particularly to the local fire department. She paid for the fire fighter's statue at Mountain View Cemetery, where she and several of her employees are also buried. A copy of the statue is located at Crawford Park on Main Street next to the Farmer’s Market, which is near one of her former establishments.
Living History: Herbert Niccolls Jr, the youngest WSP inmate
Herbert Niccolls, Jr. was the youngest inmate ever incarcerated at the Washington State Penitentiary. His story included years in the penitentiary, a diploma from Walla Walla High School, and an eventual career as an accounting executive for Twentieth Century Fox.
Living History: Richard Bogle, Jamaican immigrant, barber, businessman
Richard Bogle was born in Jamaica in 1835 where his parents were slaves. When he was 12 years old, he stowed away on a ship to New York during an anti-slavery campaign, and traveled to Oregon with a wagon train at age 16. When he was 22, he opened a restaurant and barbershop in Deadwood, California, where he also did some gold mining. On January 1, 1863, the day the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln, Bogle married America Waldo. The couple moved to Walla Walla, where he opened a fashionable barber shop. They had eight children and owned a 200-acre farm near Dixie.
Richard Bogle is portrayed by Earl Gooding Jr.
World War II Reenactors
Attention, history enthusiasts and adventure seekers! Get ready to experience an immersive journey into the era of World War Two, as a group of passionate and talented reenactors descend upon Fort Walla Walla Museum.
Living History: Nellie Day, educator and journalist
Ellen Margaret “Nellie” Gilliam Day was the daughter of Oregon Country pioneers, born in Dallas, Polk County, Oregon, in 1854. Her family moved to Walla Walla in 1859. She was an educator and a journalist. Nellie defeated her male opponent to serve as Walla Walla County School Superintendent 1887-1889 and became the first female employee at the Walla Walla Evening Bulletin in 1906.
Living History: Sebastian Colon, the "Tamale King"
Sebastian Colon came to Walla Walla around 1872, one of the earliest Hispanic settlers to arrive in the valley. Born in Spain around 1831, Colon worked in the placer mines of California before coming to Walla Walla. Here he worked as a freight packer moving mail between Boise, Idaho, and Walla Walla. Later Colon opened a restaurant and was eventually nicknamed the “Tamale King of Walla Walla.”
Living History: John Boyer, banker and businessman
John Boyer, Dorsey Baker’s brother-in-law, will be talking about his life, his career, and several of his entrepreneurial peers who took advantage of the tremendous opportunities available during Walla Walla’s boomtown years. In 1849 Boyer opened a store in Sonora, California, the Queen City of the California goldfields, which he operated until the 1860s. He came to Walla Walla in 1862 and went into a mercantile business with Dorsey Baker, located on the corner of Second and Main. Since Baker and Boyer both had reputations for being honest businessmen, miners from the Idaho gold fields would leave their gold in the mercantile safe. This was the start of the Baker Boyer Bank enterprise, which officially opened in November 1869.