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Overland through the Wilderness
In the Northwest of the 1850s, travel generally meant river transportation or going overland following trails Indian people had used for centuries. As conflict arose between the area’s Homeland Tribes and Euro-American immigrants, The United States military sought ways to move men and materiel across largely unpopulated territory. The man for the job was Lieutenant John Mullan. Portrayed by Walla Walla businessman Ron Klicker, Mullan will appear Sunday, April 29 at 2:00 pm in Fort Walla Walla Museum’s pioneer village. A monument to the Mullan Road, completed 145 years ago, stands at the west end of the Fort Walla Walla military cemetery just outside the Museum’s perimeter. Born in Virginia, John Mullan graduated from West Point in 1852 and was assigned to Isaac I. Stevens’ survey party in Washington Territory exploring the country for a northern railway route to Puget Sound. In the winter of 1853-54, Stevens left Mullan in western Montana to mark a wagon and railroad route from Fort Benton at the headwaters of Missouri River navigation, by way of Lake Coeur d'Alene, to navigable waters on the Columbia River. The western terminus was the old Fort Nez Perce near Wallula and this later became the Mullan Road. During the winter that year, Mullan traveled nearly 1,000 miles, crossing the Continental Divide six times. He was promoted to first lieutenant in February 1855 and transferred to Florida for two years fighting the Seminole Indians. Mullan returned to Washington Territory and from 1858 until 1862 was the chief of construction in building a wagon road across the Rockies. During an interruption of the work, he commanded 30 Nez Perce Indian volunteer scouts and guides in the 1858 Battle of the Four Lakes near present day Spokane. Mullan was promoted to the rank of captain in 1862 and married in 1863. At that point, he resigned his commission to begin ranching near Walla Walla, an effort that failed. He then secured a contract to deliver mail from Chico, California, to Ruby City, Idaho, but was soon forced to abandon that. He later opened a successful law practice at San Francisco, where hedied in 1909. The Mullan Road, built from Wallula’s steamship docks on the Columbia to the Missouri River, was the first wagon road to cross the Rockies and the first highway in the Northwest. Though it was frequently in such disrepair that only foot travelers and pack animals could follow its course, especially through the mountains, it was instrumental in the development of the Inland Northwest. Living History performances take place in the Museum’s pioneer village on Myra Road, weather permitting, otherwise in Exhibit Hall 2. Visitors are encouraged to question re-enactors about their experiences and views, and visit the Museum’s many displays and historic buildings. Museum hours are 10 am to 5 pm daily. Admission is free to members, children under 6, and through a reciprocal agreement Tamástslikt Cultural Institute's Inwai Circle cardholders and enrolled members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; $3 for children ages 6-12; $6 for seniors (62+) and students; and $7 for adults. Your admission cost can be applied to a membership, which includes free admission to all Living History performances, priced beginning at $25. For more information, contact Fort Walla Walla Museum at 509-525-7703 or info@fortwallawallamuseum.org. |
discovering, preserving and sharing Walla Walla regional heritage |
Captain John Mullan, portrayed by Ron Klicker 
755 Myra Road - Walla Walla, WA 99362 - (509) 525-7703
Fax: (509) 525-7798 - Email: info@fortwallawallamuseum.org
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