While Pendleton may no longer be the largest municipality in Eastern Oregon, this 17,000 population city is the cultural and historical heart of this portion of the state. In 1900 it was the fourth largest city in the state, and retains a historical character in its older sections (which comprise much of the city) that hasn't been prettified or torn down by later generations as much as in other parts of the state. This 3.5 mile walk will take you through the heart of Pendleton, with a view of its historic sites and the famous Pendleton Round-Up Rodeo site. Part of the walk follows the Umatilla River, which flows through town. The walk is mostly flat, with one moderate uphill in the middle of the journey.
The walk starts at the old Pendleton railway station, which served the
Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company after it finished its route from Oregon over the Blue Mountains to Idaho in 1884. Railroad Station Museum, With the end of Amtrak's
Pioneer route in 1997, this station was repurposed as the
Heritage Station Museum.
In front of the museum is the
Wagons Ho Statue, appropriately located and a relevant topic since Pendleton is along the route of the famous Oregon Trail. The sculpture was crafted in 1992 by an Eastern Oregon Community College instructor and his students. Pendleton seems to be a city that loves its statues - you will see many along this walk!
Across the street from the railroad station is the
Bowman Hotel, a brick building constructed in 1906 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Since 1980 the building has been used as commercial and office space. It is one of many fine old historic buildings you will see on this walk through Pendleton.
Frazier Avenue lies between the train station/museum and the Bowman Hotel building. Follow it to the right to Main Street, then turn left. After one block on Main Street, turn right onto Emigrant Avenue. On the corner of Main and Emigrant is
St. George Plaza, now an apartment development, but constructed in several phases as a hotel between 1900 and 1937. The Italianate portion on Emigrant Avenue is clearly of an earlier time than the Art Deco portion facing Main Street.
Continue on Emigrant Avenue for two blocks to Second Street, then turn left. On the corner of this intersection is Pendleton's
First United Methodist Church. This imposing building was consecrated in 1907. The congregation has been in Pendleton since 1874, but moved from its original location on 3rd Avenue when a brewery was built next door!
Continue north on 2nd Street. At mid-block, beyond the Methodist Church, is this law office, which is located in the historic Johnson-Ellis house. The house was originally built in 1899.
At the end of the block, at the intersection of 2nd and Dorion Avenue is the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. It is the oldest existing church building in Pendleton, constructed in 1898.
Continue on 2nd for two more blocks to Byers Avenue. On the left is the Pendleton Pioneer Chapel. This is not a church, it is a funeral home. While there is no information on the age of the building, the business has been in Pendleton since 1893.
Turn right on Byers Avenue and proceed three blocks to Fifth Street. After a quick right-left jog on Fifth, continue on Byers for another two blocks to Seventh Street. Turn right and go one block to Court Street, then turn left and go one block to Eighth Street. You will be walking through a neighborhood full of old houses, some spruced up, some not. At the intersection of Eighth and Court is this statue, placed in 2013, of
Esther Motanic, who in 1926 was the first Native American rodeo queen of the Pendleton Roundup.
Turn left on Eighth Street. After one block, at the corner of Eighth and Byers, each corner lot has an interesting old house from the early 20th century. This one is a classic farmhouse.
Continue one more block on Eighth to the Umatilla River. Turn left to follow the riverfront bank trail. The Umatilla drains almost 2,500 square miles, with its source in the Blue Mountains to the east and its mouth at the Columbia River to the northwest.
Continue along the trail as it parallels the river. The trail is built on a levee, with the houses on the left appearing to be at a lower elevation than the river.
Prior to intersecting Main Street the trail leaves the riverfront to the left and goes into Brownfield Park, which is a small paved area with a bit of an amphitheater. The park includes a mural that is entitled "Celebrating Wheat."
Turn right on Main Street and cross the Umatilla River. On the other side of the river, to the right is the
Pendleton Center for the Arts. It was originally built as a
Carnegie Library in 1916, in the Italian Renaissance style. In 1996, after the library moved, the building was completely renovated for its current use.
Across the street from the Center for the Arts is the Pendleton
First Christian Church, built in 1910. The church belongs to the
Disciples of Christ denomination. Among the national church's more famous members was President Ronald Reagan, who was raised as a Disciple of Christ and attended Eureka College, founded and run by the Church.
Continue on Main Street as it heads up the hill. At the corner of Main and Despain, on the right, is the Cole House, one of several grand old homes in this area of town, built in 1907. A plaque next to the home tells its story.
Continuing up Main Street, to the left is the Rogers House, built in 1917 in a Mediterranean "Palazzo" style. It has apparently been this color for decades, based upon the tastes of its original owner. Its story is also told on a plaque along the street.
Continuing up Main Street, at the corner of Main and Ellis, on the left is the Lot Livermore house, originally built in 1889, but remodeled since. The story of this grand home is also told on a plaque at the corner.
Turn left on Ellis and proceed west. There are more grand houses on this street, although not with plaques telling their stories. After two blocks turn left on 4th Street and head back down the hill. After one block 4th Street is the boundary of Pioneer Park; when the street ends continue down the hill through the park. The park has been graced with some elaborate western-themed play structures.
Continue straight down the hill through Pioneer Park - eventually you will be walking across the grass - until you reach Bailey Avenue. To the left are the Parkview Apartments, an interesting old building.
At Bailey Avenue turn right and walk six blocks through a residential area to 10th Avenue. Turn left on 10th and you will again come to the Umatilla River, flowing westward toward its mouth at the Columbia.
After crossing the Umatilla River take the trail that goes to the right. The trail empties onto a frontage road that leads into the
Pendleton Round-up rodeo grounds. This rodeo, held in mid-September, is considered one of the most important in the nation. Follow the frontage road as it circles a park and you will end up in front of the grandstand, where the Let 'er Buck statue stands. The statue was dedicated in 2010 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Pendleton Round-up.
After looking at the statue turn left (east) along Court Avenue to 10th Street. Head left on 10th after crossing the street. Follow the entrance to the Umatilla river trail when it leaves 10th to the right. As you walk along the trail you will come across this sculpture of courting herons, dedicated in 2011, and representing the fact that the Umatilla River area is a prime nesting ground for these birds.
Continue along the riverfront trail all the way back to Main Street. At Main Street, turn right. On your right is
this building, which was Pendleton's Christian Science church, constructed in a "Spanish Eclectic" style. Apparently it has some
interesting features inside as well.
Proceed down Pendleton's Main Street. The city, property owners, and merchants have done a lot to make this street shine, and it shows.
One of the most notable features along this street are the statues of three different Pendleton luminaries. The first you will come across (all are along the right side of the street) is
Jackson Sundown, a legendary Native-American rodeo performer in the early 20th century, at the Pendleton Round-Up and other rodeos around the west.
Continuing down Main Street, the next statue commemorates
Kathleen McClintock, the 1929 rodeo queen. It was placed here in 2015.
And the third statue, another block down the street, pictures
Stella Darby, described as a "beloved brothel madam," in operation from 1928 to 1967. While the town was apparently glad to see her finally go, it now reveres her as a local icon!
Taka a right onto Emigrant Avenue. The building at the corner of Emigrant and Main is the site of Ms. Darby's bordello and other less than savory aspects of Pendleton's past. These are all commemorated by the
Pendleton Underground Tours, which hosts visits to the building.
Turn left on First Street and proceed one block to the old train station and the beginning spot of this walk.
