WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Walla Walla, known today for its wineries and fine dining, very well could have had a different path.
This Saturday, October 25, the Fort Walla Walla Museum will celebrate the town’s past with a special event.
In the mid-1800s, a gold rush struck California like a lightning bolt.
Dorsey Baker, a doctor from Illinois who had traveled on the Oregon Trail, made his fortune not by mining gold but by building infrastructure.
Megan Clubb, Chairperson of the Board for Baker Boyer Bank, Baker’s great-great-granddaughter, shared insights into his vision.
“He saw that all of the people that were going into Idaho were coming up the Columbia River stopping at Wallula and coming up through Walla Walla and headed to Idaho,” said Clubb.
Grover Snell from Fort Walla Walla Museum explained the economic impact.
“Farmers here were able to sell to the fort but also to the miners at pretty steep prices,” said Snell.
This trade helped establish agriculture as a key economic driver in Walla Walla.
The completion of the railroad in 1875 transformed the region.
Before the railroad, 570 tons of wheat were shipped out of Walla Walla. A year later, that number skyrocketed to more than 30,000 tons.
This growth in agriculture, particularly in wheat and apples, cemented Walla Walla’s place in Washington State’s economy.
In the early 2000s, the legacy of Baker’s railroad was revitalized when Blue Mountain, the oldest locomotive in Washington State, was found in Alaska.
It was the only surviving train from Doc Baker’s Rawhide Railroad, and it was being used as seawall at the time.
The locomotive was in poor condition when discovered, but its restoration has been a source of pride for the community.
“We have it here for people to see and we’re going to have an unveiling ceremony for the new exhibit shelter,” said Snell.
The event will honor the history and impact of the railroad on Walla Walla’s development.
The Fort Walla Walla Museum event will take place on Saturday, October 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Visitors can enjoy special exhibits, food trucks, and food vouchers for the first 1,000 guests.
More details can be found on Fort Walla Walla’s website.
