A Shelter for the Future
Celebrating 150 Years
Exciting News: Funding Secured for Old Blue’s Next Chapter
A Historical Treasure
The Blue Mountain Locomotive, affectionately called Blue, stands as a symbol of the pioneering era that shaped Walla Walla and the broader region. From its early days on the Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad to its time in Alaska’s Nome gold fields, the locomotive’s journey is one of resilience and adventure. As the oldest locomotive in the state, it offers a unique connection to the past and a tangible reminder of how railroads transformed the region's economy, helping to build the thriving communities we know today.
To preserve this important piece of Washington State’s history, the Baker family and Fort Walla Walla Museum partnered to create an attractive and historically inspired shelter for Ol' Blue. Visitors can now visit the locomotive year-round, inspiring joy in children playing conductor and showing families why rural Walla Walla thrives to this day.
This achievement builds upon the successful recovery of 2008, which brought Ol’ Blue to Fort Walla Walla Museum and marked the start of its restoration journey. Today, our beloved Blue sits at the entrance to the museum, often unprotected and, at times, hidden beneath a tarp for weatherproofing.
With your support, we can now offer the protection and visibility Blue deserves, providing a year-round, interactive, and educational space where history comes to life. The restoration of the Blue Mountain is a journey—one that your ongoing support and enthusiasm are vital to as we continue to preserve and share our region’s legacy.
Join Us in Preserving the Blue Mountain Locomotive
The 150th anniversary of the Blue Mountain Locomotive is a moment to celebrate the past and an opportunity to secure its future. With your support, we can build a shelter that will protect this vital piece of history, allowing it to continue to inspire and educate generations to come.
Joe Murar Engineering • Washington State Railroad Historical Society • Opp & Seibold • Konen Rock Products
Narum Concrete Construction Inc. • Lampson International LLC • Walla Walla Community College • Acufab
Walla Walla Sunrise Rotary • Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad • Washington Community Capital Facilities Grant
Walla Walla Public Schools • Wildhorse Foundation • Baker Boyer Bank • Columbia Rail • Walla Walla Builders Supply
R. Campbell Design LLC • Washington Trust for Historic Preservation • National Society of Colonial Dames – Washington Chapter
Walla Walla County • Society for Industrial Archaeology • Town and Country Tree Service • Walla Walla Grain Growers