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.
The first printing press in the Pacific Northwest was first used at the Whitman mission, initially to print religious texts and legal documents.[2]The park's western facing memorial hill is a popular place for visitors to watch the sunset
In 1836, a small group of Presbyterian missionaries traveled with the annual fur trapper's caravan into Oregon Country. Among the group, Narcissa Whitman and Eliza Hart Spalding became the first white women to travel across the continent.
Marcus Whitman and Narcissa Whitman established the Whitman Mission at Waiilatpu, near the Walla Walla River. The mission was in Cayuse Country. The Cayuse welcomed the Whitmans to their land in 1836 after learning of them the previous year from Samuel Parker.[3]
The Mission became an important stop along the Oregon Trail from 1843-1847, and passing immigrants added to the tension. With the influx of white settlers the Cayuse became suspicious of the Whitmans again, fearing that the white man was coming to take the land.
A measles outbreak in November 1847 killed half the local Cayuse. The measles also broke out in the Mission but more white settlers survived. Some of the Cayuse blamed the devastation of their tribe on Dr. Whitman and Mrs. Whitman. They were killed along with eleven others; forty-seven other mission residents were taken hostage. The deaths of the Whitmans shocked the country, prompting Congress to make Oregon a U.S. territory, and precipitated the Cayuse War. Five Cayuse were hanged for murder; see Cayuse Five.
In more recent times, the site has been excavated for important artifacts, and then reburied. A memorial obelisk, erected fifty years after the event, stands on a nearby hill.
The historic site was established in 1936 as Whitman National Monument and was redesignated a National Historic Site on January 1, 1963.
^Brosnan, Cornelius J. (Cornelius James) (May 9, 1918). "History of the state of Idaho". New York, Chicago [etc.] C. Scribner's sons. Retrieved May 9, 2019 – via Internet Archive.
^Drury, Clifford (1973). Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and the Opening of Old Oregon. A. H. Clark Company. ISBN9780870621048.
External linksedit
National Park Service: Whitman Mission National Historic Site
April 15, 2024
whitman, mission, national, historic, site, united, states, national, historic, site, located, just, west, walla, walla, washington, site, former, whitman, mission, waiilatpu, november, 1847, marcus, whitman, wife, narcissa, whitman, others, were, slain, nativ. 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 Whitman Mission National Historic SiteU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic SiteThe Oregon Trail at Whitman MissionShow map of Washington state Show map of the United StatesLocationWalla Walla County Washington United StatesNearest cityWalla Walla WashingtonCoordinates46 2 24 N 118 27 41 W 46 04000 N 118 46139 W 46 04000 118 46139Built1837WebsiteWhitman Mission National Historic SiteNRHP reference No 66000749 1 Added to NRHPOctober 15 1966History editSee also Whitman massacre nbsp The first printing press in the Pacific Northwest was first used at the Whitman mission initially to print religious texts and legal documents 2 nbsp The park s western facing memorial hill is a popular place for visitors to watch the sunsetIn 1836 a small group of Presbyterian missionaries traveled with the annual fur trapper s caravan into Oregon Country Among the group Narcissa Whitman and Eliza Hart Spalding became the first white women to travel across the continent Marcus Whitman and Narcissa Whitman established the Whitman Mission at Waiilatpu near the Walla Walla River The mission was in Cayuse Country The Cayuse welcomed the Whitmans to their land in 1836 after learning of them the previous year from Samuel Parker 3 The Mission became an important stop along the Oregon Trail from 1843 1847 and passing immigrants added to the tension With the influx of white settlers the Cayuse became suspicious of the Whitmans again fearing that the white man was coming to take the land A measles outbreak in November 1847 killed half the local Cayuse The measles also broke out in the Mission but more white settlers survived Some of the Cayuse blamed the devastation of their tribe on Dr Whitman and Mrs Whitman They were killed along with eleven others forty seven other mission residents were taken hostage The deaths of the Whitmans shocked the country prompting Congress to make Oregon a U S territory and precipitated the Cayuse War Five Cayuse were hanged for murder see Cayuse Five In more recent times the site has been excavated for important artifacts and then reburied A memorial obelisk erected fifty years after the event stands on a nearby hill The historic site was established in 1936 as Whitman National Monument and was redesignated a National Historic Site on January 1 1963 References edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service April 15 2008 Brosnan Cornelius J Cornelius James May 9 1918 History of the state of Idaho New York Chicago etc C Scribner s sons Retrieved May 9 2019 via Internet Archive Drury Clifford 1973 Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and the Opening of Old Oregon A H Clark Company ISBN 9780870621048 External links editNational Park Service Whitman Mission National Historic Site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Whitman Mission National Historic Site amp oldid 1186186861, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
