Mission
To Discover, Preserve, and Share Walla Walla Regional Heritage
Walla Walla has long been known as the “Cradle of Pacific Northwest History.” By creating connections with this history, Fort Walla Walla Museum provides a sense of belonging to both long-term local residents and families that move to the area.
The Museum strives to continue to learn about the region’s heritage, to share this heritage through exhibits, events, publications, and other programs, and to keep it safe for future generations.
Fort Walla Walla Museum/Walla Walla Valley Historical Society, a not-for-profit organization, traces its lineage to 1886 with the forming of the Walla Walla Valley Pioneer Historical Society. The Museum opened to the public at its current location in Fort Walla Walla Parkin 1968.
A era of qualitative growth was launched in 1998, with the appointment of an executive director. Advances included increased programs and services, addition of a development program, computerization of collection records, and significant additions to the collection.
Construction of a Headquarters building was completed in 2001. In addition to office space, it contains 6,000 square feet of climate-controlled storage for long-term care of artifacts, an exhibit staging area, and research library.
In April 2010, the Museum opened a new Entrance Hall and Galleries with much added exhibit space, restrooms, parking, a larger store, and space for a future orientation theater. In further support of its mission, the museum also has inaugurated a new Heritage Research Services division, which provides archaeology and other cultural resource expertise to the region.
Fort Walla Walla Museum looks forward to continued growth of programs and services to help this changing community treasure its distinctive past and carry it into the future.
