UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Stewart L. Udall, _Secretary_ NATIONAL PARK SERVICE George B. Hartzog, Jr., _Director_ [Illustration: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE · DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR] HISTORICAL HANDBOOK NUMBER 37 This publication is one of a series of handbooks describing the historical and archeological areas in the National Park System administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. It is printed by the Government Printing Office and can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C., 20402. Price 45 cents. WHITMAN MISSION NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE By Erwin N. Thompson [Illustration: (uncaptioned)] National Park Service Historical Handbook Series No. 37 Washington, D.C.: 1964 _here they labored among the Cayuse Indians_ It is a distinct pleasure to acknowledge my indebtedness to 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 this manuscript 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