Reverend Cushing Eells, Founder of Whitman Seminary (later to become Whitman College)
Rogers Miles and Barbara Coddington portray Rev. Cushing & Myra Eells
Pioneer missionaries Cushing and Myra Eells arrived in the Valley in 1838. Mrs. Eells was one of the first four Euro-American women to cross the continent. The Eells later settled among the Spokane Indians until the tragedy at the Whitman's mission in 1847, when they moved to the Willamette Valley.
They returned to the Walla Walla Valley at the close of the Indian wars in 1859 to reclaim the mission grounds at Waiilatpu, site of Whitman Mission. There, Cushing decided to found an educational institution, the Whitman Seminary, to honor the slain Whitman. He received a charter from the territorial legislature for that purpose the same year. Reverend Eels also helped establish Walla Walla's first Congregational church.
In 1883, what first was known as Whitman Seminary became Whitman College, as a result of the Eells efforts that continued throughout their lives. Reverend Eells is portrayed by Whitman College Professor of Rogers Miles; Myra is played by retired art museum curator and Milton-Freewater Library Board member Barbara Coddington.
Performances begin at 2:00 p.m. in the pioneer settlement at Fort Walla Walla Museum. Visitors are encouraged to question the Living History re-enactors about their lives and times. The Museum is open daily, 10 am - 5 pm, April through October; 10 am - 4 pm, November1 through December 23; and weekdays, 10 am - 4 pm, January through March.
Admission is free to Fort Walla Walla Museum members,
eligible service personnel & their familes through
the Blue Star Museums program, Tamástslikt Cultural Institute's
Inwai Circle cardholders,
enrolled members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and all children under 6;
$3/children
6-12; $6/seniors (62+) and students; $7/adults.
Your admission fee today may be applied to a membership,
priced beginning at $27. For more information, contact Fort Walla Walla Museum at 509-525-7703, or email: info@fortwallawallamuseum.org. |
