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 43,000 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 2011, a series of special exhibits will be displayed in the Museum's new Entry Hall & Exhibit Galleries. Honoring the Red, White and Blue: Patriotic Beadwork of the Plateau People is featured in the Special Exhibit Gallery through August 14. Scores of vibrantly-colored examples of the beadworkers' craft are featured, loaned through the courtesy of Fred L. Mitchell.
In mid-August, the Museum displays its annual heritage quilt show, featuring a sampling from the Museum's extensive collection of quilts and coverlets. The exhibit will remain in place through October 31.
Beginning in early November, be sure to enjoy An Olde-Fashioned Christmas, featuring a sampling of the Museum's extensive heritage Christmas postcard collection.
Additionally, the new Entry houses an enhanced Lewis & Clark in Wallah Wallah Country exhibit with a new mural by acclaimed landscape artist Leslie Cain, a newly updated military commemoration exhibit, and much more.
A major new exhibit funded in part 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 |
Honoring the Red, White and Blue: Patriotic Beadwork of the Plateau People
 |
April 1 |
August 14 |
The Art of Norman Adams: A Retrospective
Norman Adams' Whitetail Deer
|
|
June 16
|
Randy Klassen's West
Randy Klassen's Need Some Gas?
|
June 22 |
August 16 |
Annual Heritage Quilt Show
1858 Whig Rose Quilt |
August 19 |
October 31 |
Northwest Sisters in Art
Carly Hippauf's A Touch of Winter
The Sisters in Art includes: Carly Rae Hippauf, Betty Wood, Joyce Anderson, Mollie Fenton, Sally Thomason, Diane Jones, Lauri Borer, Nickolette Hultmann, and Shanna Fledderjohann |
August 19 |
October 31 |
An Olde-Fashioned Christmas
Enjoy a sampling of the Museum's heritage Christmas postcard collection
|
November 4 |
December 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.
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, volunteers Bob Bonstead, Roger Cocklerline, 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, as are eligible service personnel and their families through the Blue Star Museums program. For more information, contact Fort Walla Walla Museum at 509-525-7703, or info@fortwallawallamuseum.org |
