UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Stewart L. Udall, Secretary

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
George B. Hartzog, Jr., Director

HISTORICAL HANDBOOK NUMBER 37

This publication is one of a series of handbooksdescribing the historical and archeological areasin the National Park System administered by theNational Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.It is printed by the Government PrintingOffice and can be purchased from the Superintendentof Documents, Washington, D.C., 20402.Price 45 cents.

WHITMAN MISSION
NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

By Erwin N. Thompson

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National Park Service Historical Handbook Series No. 37
Washington, D.C.: 1964

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here they labored among the Cayuse Indians

It is a distinct pleasure to acknowledge my indebtednessto Jack Farr, formerly with the National Park Service,and Robert L. Whitner, Whitman College, Walla Walla,Wash., who prepared the material on which most of thismanuscript was based.

E. N. T.

Contents

Page

Call from the West 10

Samuel Parker and the American Board 13

“We Want You for Oregon” 15

Those Who Answered the Call 18

The Oregon Country 19

The Trip West 25

A Welcome at Fort Vancouver 27

Starting a New Life 29

The Cayuse Indians 34

Reinforcements for Oregon 39

A Community Rises at Waiilatpu 41

The Mission Children 50

Missions in Oregon 53

The Ride East 57

A Caravan on the Oregon Trail 61

The Gathering Storm 64

The Massacre 66

The Harvest of Violence 71

Preservation of the Past 74

Testimony from the Earth: A Folio 76

Suggested Readings 92

Waiilatpu is the site of themission founded among theCayuse Indians in 1836 byMarcus and Narcissa Whitman.After 11 years of ministerin