Washington Territory and Walla Walla - 1853-1861
1853
March 3
Washington Territory was created. Isaac I. Stevens was appointed first territorial governor and superintendent of Indian affairs.
1854
April 16
Walla Walla County was organized. It was later expanded to encompass an area including all of eastern Washington and parts of Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
1855
May 29 - June 12
The first Walla Walla Treaty Council was called by Gov. Isaac Stevens with the Yakama , Nez Perce, Cayuse, Walla Walla and Umatilla Tribes. The treaty grounds were between what is now lst & Main and the Whitman College campus. Governor Stevens and Oregon Supt of Indian Affairs Joel Palmer negotiated three treaties with these tribes, establishing the Yakama, Nez Perce, and Umatilla Indian reservations. Congress ratified the treaties nearly four years later, on March 8, 1859.
December 7 - 10
The Battle of Walla Walla took place east of Walla Walla in the vicinity of Lowden. Oregon Volunteers fought a 4-day series of battles with the Indians of the area dissatisfied with the treaties and the influx of whites. The Chief of the Walla Wallas, Peo-Peo-Mox-Mox, was killed under a flag of truce during the battle.
1856
September
In conjunction with a second, unsuccessful Walla Walla Treaty Council that year, Lt. Colonel Steptoe's troops built a temporary military fort called Fort Walla Walla at a spot along what is now Five Mile Road just south of Mill Creek.
October
Steptoe relocated the military fort to a new location just east of what is now First and Main Streets in downtown Walla Walla.
1857
Spring
William McWhirk opened a tent store, the first business in what is now the city of Walla Walla.
May
Co. E, 9 th Infantry, arrived with a portable sawmill and camped at the point on the hill southwest of the present downtown where the third and last military Fort Walla Walla was to be located. Barracks were completed and occupied the following year. The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center presently occupies the site that is now known as the Jonathan M. Wainwright VA Medical Center. Some of the oldest buildings in Walla Walla are included in the Ft. Walla Walla historic district there dating from 1858.
1858
May 6
Colonel Steptoe left Walla Walla with 130 dragoons, heading north to investigate troubles between miners and Indians. There followed the disastrous battle near Steptoe Butte (now a state park near Rosalia, off U.S. Highway 195), resulting in the defeat and retreat of Steptoe's troops, with heavy losses.
June 2
William Craig assumed duties as first postmaster of Waiilatpu (later briefly named Steptoeville and then changed to Walla Walla).
Oct. 31
Walla Walla country opened to settlement after several years of Indian wars.
1859
March 15
Walla Walla County commissioners held initial meeting.
July 1
Lt. John Mullen left Walla Walla with road building crew. In 1861 Mullen and his men completed a road to Fort Benton, Montana, 624 miles distant, called the Mullen Road.
Oct. 11
The Methodist Church, first Protestant church in Walla Walla, was organized. The Methodist Church building was completed in 1860 at the northeast corner of Fifth & Alder Streets at a cost of $1046.52.
Oct. 19
Walla Walla Masonic Lodge No. 7 established as city's first lodge; group incorporated in 1864.
Catholic fathers erected a structure of poles and shakes at Third and Poplar, described as a church. This was the first Catholic Church building here and was also used as the first polling place in 1859.
Nov. 17
County commissioners voted to change the city's name from Steptoeville to Walla Walla .
Dec. 20
Washington Territorial legislature granted a charter for Whitman Seminary, later to become Whitman College.
1860
June 4
The first term of court conducted in Washington Territory convened in Walla Walla.
( Washington Territory was organized into 3, later 4 judicial districts. Walla Walla was designated as the seat of the First Judicial District, and there with Judge William Strong presiding, the first term of court was held).
Sept. 1
Schwabacher Company (later for many years known as Gardner & Co.) opened as the first department store in Washington Territory.
Gold was discovered at Orofino, ID by Walla Walla prospectors.
1861
Jan. 29
Legislature rejected a bill to create Territory of Walla Walla, thus ending possibility of naming the state Walla Walla.
Nov. 29
The Washington Statesman, first newspaper between Missouri and the Cascades, made its debut in Walla Walla.
First public school opened that fall in a private house near today's intersection of Palouse
and Alder.
Fire protection organized with the formation of the bucket brigade.
Gold seekers flood into Walla Walla to purchase provisions and pack animals for the Idaho goldfields, signaling the beginning of the Idaho gold rush which made Walla Walla a
boom town.
Related Websites:
Whitman College and Northwest Archives: http://www.whitman.edu/penrose/wca/archives.htm
WA State History Link: www.historylink.org
Whitman Mission National Historic Site: www.nps.gov/whmi
Fort Walla Walla Museum : www.fortwallawallamuseum.org
Kirkman House Museum : www.kirkmanhousemuseum.org
Walla Walla County : www.co.walla-walla.wa.us
