Discover 9 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Walla Walla (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Gesa Power House Theatre, and Kirkman House. Also, be sure to include Whitman College in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Walla Walla (Washington).
Table of Contents
Whitman Mission National Historic Site
Historical place in Walla Walla County, Washington. Whitman Mission National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located just west of Walla Walla, Washington, at the site of the former Whitman Mission at Waiilatpu. On November 29, 1847, Dr. Marcus Whitman, his wife Narcissa Whitman, and 11 others were slain by Native Americans of the Cayuse. The site commemorates the Whitmans, their role in establishing the Oregon Trail, and the challenges encountered when two cultures meet.[1]
Address: 328 Whitman Mission Rd, Walla Walla
Gesa Power House Theatre
The Electric Light Works Building, also known as Gesa Power House Theatre, is a noteworthy building in Walla Walla, Washington that has aided in the growth and success of the city. It started out as a substation in the early 20th century, supplying Walla Walla with electricity, supporting economic growth, and allowing it to develop into a city of now over 30,000 people. It was one of the first substations that converted hydropower to electricity in Washington state and is a good example of industrial architecture in the 1900s. Today it is as much a symbol of Walla Walla’s history as it is of the ever-changing culture of Walla Walla.[2]
Address: 111 N 6th Ave, 99362-1728 Walla Walla
Kirkman House
Building in Walla Walla, Washington. The Kirkman House is an authentic example of the luxurious 1880s, a period of extensive growth for Walla Walla in downtown business buildings and in fine homes. The Kirkman house is one of the Northwest's most outstanding Victorian structures. It was built by William Kirkman, who left Bolton, England in the middle of the 19th century and made money in cattle in the West. The family moved into the home in 1880, and it was home to three generations of Kirkmans before the family gave it to Whitman College in 1919.[3]
Address: 214 N Colville St, 99362-1917 Walla Walla
Whitman College
Liberal arts college in Walla Walla, Washington. Whitman College is a private liberal arts college in Walla Walla, Washington. The school offers 53 majors and 33 minors in the liberal arts and sciences, and it has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1. Whitman was the first college in the Pacific Northwest to install a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, and the first in the U.S. to require comprehensive exams for graduation. Alumni have received 1 Nobel Prize in physics, 1 Presidential Medal of Freedom, 7 Rhodes Scholarships, 1 Marshall Scholarship, 3 Schwarzman Scholarships, 35 Watson Fellowships, and 62 Fulbright Fellowships.
Founded as a seminary by a territorial legislative charter in 1859, the school became a four-year degree-granting institution in 1882 and abandoned its religious affiliation in 1907. It is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and competes athletically in the NCAA Division III Northwest Conference. Distinguished alumni include Nobel laureate Walter Brattain, William O. Douglas, NASA astronaut Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, inventor of the time projection chamber David R. Nygren, Ryan Crocker, actor Adam West, and Neil Kornze, director of the Bureau of Land Management.[4]
Address: 345 Boyer Ave, 99362-2083 Walla Walla
Fort Walla Walla Museum
Museum, History museum
Address: 755 NE Myra Rd, 99362-8035 Walla Walla
Walla Walla Community College
Community college in Walla Walla, Washington. Walla Walla Community College is a multi-campus community college in southeastern Washington state.[5]
Address: 500 Tausick Way, 99362-9270 Walla Walla
Walla Walla Valley Traction Company Car Barn
The Walla Walla Valley Traction Company Car Barn, at 1102 W. Cherry in Walla Walla, Washington, was built in 1906. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
It has also been known as the Walla Walla Valley Traction Company Engine House.
It was originally Walla Walla's streetcar and train facility. Now it is the Canoe Ridge Vineyard's tasting room.[6]
Dacres Hotel
Hotel. The Dacres Hotel is a historic hotel in Walla Walla, Washington, United States. Rebuilt from the ruins of Walla Walla's first brick hotel, the 1873 Stine House, the Italianate building was re-opened in 1899 by James E. Dacres. The building is a rare and exceptional local example of the pre-fabricated cast iron facades manufactured by the Mesker Brothers. Bennes, Hendricks & Tobey remodeled the building in 1907. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 5, 1974.
Ceasing operations as a hotel in 1959, the building currently houses a live music and events venue known as 'The Dacres' on the ground floor while the upper floors remain unused.[7]
The Getaway Casino
Nightlife, Gambling, Casino
Address: 1831 Portland Ave, Walla Walla