Passengers on the Cruise West River Voyage of Discovery cruise on the Columbia and Snake Rivers spent the day in Walla Walla, visiting two main sites--the Fort Walla Walla Museum and the Whitman Mission National Historic Site.
Fort Walla Walla Museum has numerous exhibits scattered about 17 buildings on the old fort site. Those focusing on pioneer life and antique farm equipment are particularly interesting. The Fort Walla Walla cemetery nearby is marvelous, and some of the old tombstones have very touching epitaphs.
The Whitman Mission site memorializes a 1847 tragedy, when Cayuse Indians killed 12 missionaries who had worked with them in peace for over 11 years. The Cayuse believed that the missionaries were responsible for the measles epidemic that had wiped out half their tribe. It's a sad story in a lovely setting and worth a visit.
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