Discover 6 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Joseph (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, and Wallowa Lake. Also, be sure to include Alvin M. and Betty Josephy Library of Western History and Culture in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Joseph (Oregon).
Table of Contents
Josephy Center for Arts and Culture
Art gallery in Joseph, Oregon. The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture is a community-based arts center located in Joseph, Oregon, United States. It hosts monthly exhibits, a variety of workshops, classes, film showings, and guest speakers. The Center is a registered 501 non-profit and is run almost entirely through grants and donations.[1]
Address: 403 Main St, 97846 Joseph
Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site
State park in Wallowa County, Oregon. Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, a public park in the U.S. state of Oregon, is on the south edge of Joseph, along Oregon Route 351. Its name comes from the Nez Perce place name, Iwetemlaykin, which means "at the edge of the lake". The park, near Wallowa Lake, is adjacent to one of the 38 sites of the Nez Perce National Historical Park, the site of the Old Chief Joseph grave and cemetery.
Established in 2009, the park lies on 62 acres (25 ha) of land in an area that was once part of the homeland of the Nez Perce. Park amenities include a walking trail, Knight's pond, wildlife watching, native plants, views of the Wallowa Mountains, parking, and a restroom.[2]
Wallowa Lake
Ribbon lake in Oregon. Wallowa Lake is a ribbon lake 1 mile south of Joseph, Oregon, United States, at an elevation of 4,372 ft. Impounded by high moraines, it was formed by a series of Pleistocene glaciers. On the south end of the lake is a small community made up of vacation homes, lodging, restaurants, as well as other small businesses. Wallowa Lake has been used for recreation since at least 1880. The Wallowa Lake State Park is at the southern tip of the lake.[3]
Alvin M. and Betty Josephy Library of Western History and Culture
The Alvin M. and Betty Josephy Library of Western History and Culture is a private, non-circulating SAGE-affiliated library located in Joseph, Oregon, United States. It is located on the second floor of the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture. It is based on the collection and writings of historian and Native American advocate Alvin M. Josephy, Jr. and his wife Betty. In the library's own words, it "honors Alvin's work as a historian of and advocate for American Indians, and Alvin and Betty's commitment to literature, history, the arts, the West, and to the people of all colors and backgrounds who have lived in and loved the West."[4]
First Bank of Joseph
Museum in Joseph. The First Bank of Joseph, at 2nd and Main Sts. in Joseph, Oregon, is a 25-by-91-foot historic building that was built in 1887. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
According to its NRHP nomination, it is "a fine example of High Victorian Italianate Commercial architecture. Although the style was common in Portland and the Willamette Valley, in the isolated town of Joseph in the northeast corner of the state, such a fine example of the style is quite unusual."
It was converted to a physician's office and surgery in 1917; in 1927 the city took it over and used it as a community center with an upstairs performing arts theater. The building served as the city hall and library before 1973. After being vacant for several years, the building was renovated and, at the time of NRHP nomination, served as the Wallowa County Museum.[5]
Dr. J.W. Barnard Building and First National Bank of Joseph
Historical landmark in Joseph, Oregon. The Dr. J. W. Barnard Building and First National Bank of Joseph, at 12 - 14 Main St. in Joseph, Oregon, is a pair of historic adjacent buildings sharing a common interior wall. They were built by investment of physician Dr. J. W. Barnard, rancher Ludwig Knapper, and banker Frederick Scribner. Each building is 25 by 60 feet in footprint.
The Dr. J. W. Barnard Building was built in 1908 by local contractor Frank Marr, with design by Chicago architects J.A. Flesch & Son.
The First National Bank Building was also built in 1908 by Frank Marr. It was used as a bank until the bank failed in 1925; it was then used as a post office.
The pair of buildings was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991; the listing included two contributing buildings.[6]