In the early 1800’s the US went through a revival of Christianity and people of faith signed up to minister to the Native American people in the west. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman leave their lives behind in New York to become one of the first families to travel the Oregon Trail. They preach to the Cayuse Tribe, and through a series of cultural misunderstandings, they become part of a national tragedy. On this episode of Podcasts with Park Rangers we explore Whitman Mission National Historic Site.
 
Show Notes found at: https://www.virtualkamper.com/pwpr19/
Help keep the show on the road: https://www.patreon.com/virtualkamper/

Podcast Resources:

* Whitman Mission National Historic Site NPS Site
* Marcus Whitman
* Discover more Podcasts with Park Rangers episodes!

Topics Covered

* About Ranger Michael Bogert
* The Location of Whitman Mission National Historic Site
* Who are the Whitmans?
* The Cayuse Are Interested in the Whitmans
* The Oregon Trail
* Relations Between the Whitmans and Cayuse Head South
* The Murder of the Whitmans
* America’s Reaction
* How Whitman Mission National Historic Site Has Changed
* What can we learn from Whitman Mission?
* Ranger Michael’s Interest in Whitman Mission and the NPS
* Thanks to Our Listeners – Let’s Connect More!

About Ranger Michael Bogert
Ranger Michael has worked as a Seasonal Ranger with the National Park Service since 2012, and this summer he’s at Whitman Mission National Historic Site. The sites he’s worked range all the way from Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in Alaska to the Statue of Liberty in New York.
Michael explores new places through hiking and he connects with locals to find out their stories about each site he works at. This connection helps him tell the story of each park in a unique way.
The Location of Whitman Mission National Historic Site
In the Walla Walla Valley of southeast Washington, north of the Oregon border, you’ll find Whitman Mission. The green hills surround the park and it’s mostly farm country today. The Walla Walla River runs nearby and it combines with mountain runoff to create a watershed.
The mission sits in a temperate area, and in the summers it can reach 100 degrees. While there are trees surrounding the area today, in the mid-1800’s there were none. So, it’d be a very hot place to call home with little to no shade, but it’s a great place to settle and farm.
Who are the Whitmans?
Marcus and Narcissa Whitman traveled across the country from New York to the area now known as Walla Walla, Washington. As missionaries, they spread the word of God to the Cayuse Nation. In the 1830s, America saw a revival of Christianity, and it wasn’t enough to be a good Christian. The church expected people to preach their faith as well.
Marcus left his life as a doctor, and the two rode in a covered wagon drawn by oxen along the Oregon Trail. In 1836, they began a new life out west without their families.