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Wallula Junction from Highway 730, Wallula Gap.
Looking at the Port of Walla Walla between basalts of the Wallula Gap.
Image taken September 25, 2005.
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Wallula ...
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Today's town of Wallula is located on the left bank of the Columbia River at River Mile (RM) 316, upstream of the Wallula Gap and the Walla Walla River, and approximately 20 miles downstream of the junction of the Snake River with the Columbia. Badger Island and Crescent Island lie offshore with the location of Yellepit across the river. The Port of Walla Walla (more information below) is upstream at RM 317.
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Lewis and Clark and Wallula ...
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On October 18, 1805, Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery left their camp at the junction of the Snake River with the Columbia. They passed the Wallula location, a spot which would later become the location of Fort Nez Perce, Fort Walla Walla, and the town of Wallula, Washington. This was the beginning of their journey down the great Columbia. The men would spend the night at Spring Gulch, five miles downstream of today's Wallula.
- "... This morning Cool and fare wind from the S. E.
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Took our leave of the Chiefs and all those about us and proceeded on down the great Columbia river
..."
[Clark, October 18, 1805]
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"Wallula Landing", "Wallula", and "Wallula Junction" ...
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Robert Hitchman wrote in "Place Names of Washington" (1985, Washington State Historical Society):
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"Wallula (T7N R31E) ... Pioneer town originally located north of the junction of Walla Walla and Columbia rivers, Walla Walla County. With the completion of McNary Dam in 1954, the area was flooded in Lake Wallula. From 1818 until 1857, the site was occupied by fur trading posts and forts owned successively by North West Company and Hudson's Bay Company. A river town called Wallula Landing was established in 1859, then in March 1862, the town of Wallula was named and platted by J.M. Vansycle and S.W. Tatem. When Northern Pacific Railway built through the area in 1882, a town called Wallula Junction was built one mile to the east. This Walla Walla Indian word has the same meaning as Walla Walla in Nez Perce language, namely "plenty of water" or "place of many waters," an appropriate description of the original location which was thoroughly supplied with water from many sources."
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Early Wallula ...
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Between 1818 to 1857 the location around todays Wallula was occupied by fur trading posts and forts owned successively by the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company.
A river town called "Wallula Landing" was established in 1858.
The 1861 cadastral survey (tax survey) for T7N R31E Section 27 shows the Walla Walla River and to the north the "Old H.B. Ft. Walla Walla and the name "J.M. Vansyckle & Co." right next to it, and slightly above the name "Walula".
In March 1862, the first town of Wallula was named and platted by James Milton Vansyckle and Seth W. Tatem on the site of the original Fort Nez Perce and Fort Walla Walla. It became an important steamboat landing for journey to the Idaho and Montana gold fields.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records (2007) show John M. Vansyckle begin granted title to 159.75 acres of T7N R31E, Sections 27 and 28, on April 1, 1865, under the 1820 Sale-Cash Entry.
In 1882 the Northern Pacific Railway built through the area and a railroad town called "Wallula Junction" was built one mile to the east.
Both Wallula and Wallula Junction were inundated by the rising waters of the reservoir behind the
McNary Dam.
In 1952 a new town of Wallula came into existence on high ground on the east side of the highway, with a view of
Wallula Gap.
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Early Maps ...
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1915 Topographic map detail, Columbia River from Spring Gulch to Wallula.
Includes "Spring Gulch", "Yellepit", "Lasts Island", "Wallula Ferry", "Wallula", and the "Walla Walla River".
Original 1:125,000 U.S. Geological Survey "Wallula Quadrangle, Oregon-Washington", 1916 edition.
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Views ...
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Wallula Gap basalts, with the Port of Walla Walla, Wallula, Washington in the distance.
Right bank, as seen from Highway 730.
Image taken September 24, 2005.
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Wallula, Washington, from downstream.
Right bank, as seen Highway 730.
Image taken September 25, 2005.
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- Fort Nez Perce or "Old Fort Walla Walla" ...
- Port of Walla Walla ...
- Wallula Ferry ...
- Views from Wallula ...
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Fort Nez Perce or "Old Fort Walla Walla" ...
Fort Nez Perce (also called "Fort Numipu", the Nez Perce name for themselves meaning "The People") was constructed in 1818 by Donald McKenzie, a fur trader with the Montreal-based North West Company. Fort Nez Perce was located on the left bank of the Columbia River six miles below the mouth of the Snake River and 1/2 mile above the mouth of the Walla Walla River.
This was the original "Fort Walla Walla", often today referred to as "Old Fort Walla Walla", and is not to be confused with
three later military-based Fort Walla Wallas built around the community of Walla Walla. The 1818 fort was a combined fort and fur-trading post.
Today, a historical marker, made from the actual stones from Fort Walla Walla, has been erected at a highway turnout on Highway 730 near the site.
[More]
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Sign, Fort Walla Walla, Wallula, Washington.
Image taken September 26, 2004.
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Port of Walla Walla ...
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The Port of Walla Walla operates no public facilities, but leases property at Wallula Junction. A grain elevator, warehouse, and chemical company are located there.
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Port of Walla Walla, Wallula, Washington.
View from downstream.
Image taken September 25, 2005.
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Wallula Ferry ...
Between 1879 and 1935, and again from 1948 to 1955, a ferry across the Columbia River operated in the Wallula area.
"Jehu Switzler started a horse-powered Switzler Ferry in 1879 and the Switzler family ran a ferry across the Columbia until the Wallula Cutoff Road opened in 1935. In 1948, ferry runs started again, transporting dam workers until a bridge from Umatilla to Plymouth opened in 1955."
Source:
Center For Columbia River History website, 2016.
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Scenic Auto Route:
- Wallula to Burbank to Pasco to Kennewick, crossing the Snake River at Burbank and Columbia River at Pasco.
Ferry Charges:
- Wallula Ferry $1.50
- Combined Burbank and Pasco Ferry $1.50
- Burbank Ferry 50 cents
- Pasco Ferry $1.00
All Ferries Make Day or Night Crossings.
Source:
"Western Motor Car", August 1915, vol.VII, no.3.
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"From Finley to Hover, five miles, is a fair dirt road, and three miles below Hover is the ferry leading across the Columbia to Wallula."
Source:
"Morning Oregonian", February 28, 1916, courtesy Historic Oregon Newspapers Archives, Univeristy of Oregon Libraries, 2016.
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Click image to enlarge
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1915 Topographic map detail, Columbia River from Spring Gulch to Wallula.
Includes "Spring Gulch", "Yellepit", "Lasts Island", "Wallula Ferry", "Wallula", and the "Walla Walla River".
Original 1:125,000 U.S. Geological Survey "Wallula Quadrangle, Oregon-Washington", 1916 edition.
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Views from Wallula ...
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Wallula, Washington, lies on the upstream end of the Wallula Gap, and good views of the Gap can be seen.
The small Crescent Island lies off the shoreline from Wallula, with Badger Island slightly upstream. Many islands use to exist before Lake Wallula waters covered them.
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Wallula Gap as seen from Wallula Viewpoint, Washington.
Image taken September 24, 2005.
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Wallula Gap as seen from Wallula, Washington.
Image taken September 25, 2005.
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Click image to enlarge
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Wallula Gap as seen from Wallula, Washington.
Image taken September 25, 2005.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, October 18, 1805 ...
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