Living History: Narcissa Whitman, Protestant missionary

The Whitman’s established the first mission in the Walla Walla region in the 1830s which remained in existence until 1847. The story of this famous couple is one of the most interesting and, in some cases, controversial histories of early Walla Walla. The Whitmans came to the Walla Walla Valley in the fall of 1836. They decided to establish their mission at Waiilatpu with the intended purpose of converting the local Indian people, the Cayuse, to Christianity. During the 1840s their mission also became one of the main stops for western immigrants after Marcus Whitman led a wagon train of a thousand immigrants over the Oregon Trail. "While getting his missionary party ready for Oregon, Dr. Marcus Whitman married Narcissa Prentiss. Mrs. Whitman was a lady of refined feelings and commanding appearance. She had a very light, fresh complexion and light blue eyes. Her features were large, her form was round. At the time she arrived in the country in the prime of her life, she was considered a fine, noble-looking woman, affable and free to converse with all she met. Her conversation was animated and cheerful. Firmness in her was natural, and to some, especially the Indians, it was repelling.” — W. S. Clark, president of the Inland Empire Association, 1928 The Whitman story is important to understand in today’s world as it is a story of two cultures trying to live together, understand each other’s ways, and retain respect for each other’s culture. Narcissa Whitman is portrayed by Julie Hall.