There's Always Something New at Fort Walla Walla Museum!
Fort Walla Walla Museum is continually working on new exhibits and upgrading existing displays. While the Museum portrays the past as part of our mission to preserve and share the heritage of the Walla Walla region, we offer more than a static snapshot of history. Our visitors have asked for more interpretation of regional heritage and we respond appropriately. With an artifact collection numbering more than 42,000 items, Fort Walla Walla Museum constantly works at sharing more of the region’s past with people from across the country and around the world. New exhibits help keep the days of long ago vibrant and alive for the Museum's new and returning guests.
During 2010, a series of special exhibits will be displayed in the Museum's new Entry Hall & Exhibit Galleries. Practical Beauty: A Century of Quilts premiers Friday, July 30.
Additionally, the new building will house an enhanced Lewis & Clark in Wallah Wallah Country exhibit with a new mural by acclaimed landscape artist Leslie Cain, a new military commemoration exhibit, and much more.
A major new exhibit funded by the federal Institute for Museum and Library Services, Through War and Peace: American Military and the People of the Homeland Tribes, helps tell the story of the interactions of regional Indian people and the various incarnations of the United States military from the 1800s onward. Beginning with the Northwest Corps of Discovery under Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1805, the history is both tragic and uplifiting, and continues to this day.
Through War and Peace shows the change in the appearance of the military as the appearance of the country changed, too (note the increasing number of stars on each flag as you tour this exhibit).
Our Fort Walla Walla military cemetery exhibit has been greatly enhanced. Draped behind the grave markers is a 7'x15.5' 38-star flag that flew over the post circa 1876-1889.
Hanging the flag on July 14, 2010, are (l-r) Building and Grounds Manager Jim Klees,
volunteer Kathy Stritzel, Collections Manager Laura Schulz,
and volunteer 'Steve' Stevenson.
The star pattern is asymetrical (see the two stars by the bill of Jim's cap and right shoulder); compare the differences here with the 38-star flag in the Through War and Peace exhibit (see photo above). Volunteer Shirl Phillips, who prepared the flag for display, notes that white fabric was placed on both sides of the blue field, sewn on by machine in star paterns, then trimmed to size. While seen from both sides as displayed on a flag pole, the side seen here is in a sense
the back, in that the seams are turned over on this side.
Special Exhibit Series Schedule
Display |
Start |
Conclusion |
| A Tradition of Wool: higlighting the historical impoprtance of the sheep and woolen industries to to the region |
April 1 |
June 7 |
|
June 10 |
July 26
|
Practical Beauty: A Century of Quilts
Annual Heritage Quilt Show
|
July 30 |
October 31 |
The Whig Rose quilt, dating to 1858,
has an estimated 350,000 hand stitches
Practical Beauty: A Century of Quilts
Annual Heritage Quilt Show continues throug October 31
New Programs
Fort Walla Walla Museum in the Classroom
Among its goals, Fort Walla Walla Museum wishes to make contact with children five or six times during their K-12 years. Living History and other programs for schools may be arranged through the Museum via email at info@fortwallawallamuseum.org or by calling 509-525-7703.
Tales o' the Trail children's reading circle at 2:00 pm each second & fourth Sunday throughout the season. Volunteers read aloud from age-appropriate books of regional historic interest. A craft is offered to occupy busy young hands in the 30-45 minute program designed for children ages 5-9. Parents and families may enjoy the Living History performance while children dig into history at their own level. The program is coordinated by volunteers Catherine Anderson and Celia Andrews.
Heritage Resource Services
Reflecting its focus on soldiers, pioneers and Indian people, the Museum employs the talents of Executive Director James Payne as a Washington Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation-certified field archaeologist. With member/published archaeologist Dr. Darby Stapp, archaeologist Greg Civay, assistants Kara Pittman
and Alex Salzman, interns Heather Treiber and Mike Yeager, with volunteers Bob Bonstead and David Rudell, the team is well-qualified to address regional archaeological monitoring issues
with experience, cultural sensitivity, and dedication to preserving the region's historical resources.
Endowment opportunities are available for exhibits, the capital campaign, and other facets of FortWalla Walla Museum. You can help by clicking DONATE NOW. For more information contact the Museum at (509) 525-7703 or info@fortwallawallamuseum.org.
The Museum is located in Fort Walla Walla Park along Myra Road in Walla Walla. Regular admission is $7/adults; $6/students and seniors (62+); $3/children 6-12; and free to members and children under 6. Through a reciprocal agreement, Tamástslikt Cultural Institute’s Inwai Circle cardholders and enrolled members of The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation are also accorded free admission. For more information, contact Fort Walla Walla Museum at 509-525-7703, or info@fortwallawallamuseum.org
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