• Pendleton was widely known for its wild side, and a visit to the Pendleton Underground Tours will tell you what it was really like. (800-226-6398; www.pendletonundergroundtours.com) With Pendleton’s extensive system of underground tunnels, life below the streets included card rooms, wash houses, meat markets, an ice cream company, and speak-easy establishments. The hotel above served clients as the “Cozy Room” bordello. Big-hearted Miss Stella was boss, but was still well respected in the greater community!
• A trip to this region would not be complete without a stop at the Pendleton Woolen Mill. (800-568-3156; www.pendleton-usa.com) The region once supplied summer grazing for thousands of bands of sheep, which were sheared every spring. (A band usually consisted of anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 head of sheep.) Area sheep ranchers needed a market for their wool. The Pendleton Woolen Mills began filling that need in 1909, producing popular trading blankets. The mill continues to produce robes, shawls, and blankets with distinctive Indian-inspired designs. Shop in the salesroom, which showcases shirts, bags, and ladies wear at reasonable prices. A free guided tour of the mill's blanket weaving operation is also available.
Be a Kid Again!
Remember how fun it was to get your hands, up to your elbows, in finger paints, to make your own play dough, or to marvel at the universe as you learned about the stars? Rediscover these feelings with your kids at the Children's Museum of Eastern Oregon (541-276-1066). Then get sidetracked inside Pendleton's historic railroad depot and the Umatilla County Historical Society Museum (541-276-0012). The Pendleton Chamber of Commerce can give you complete information on the many attractions and activities of the area. (501 S. Main Street; 800-547-8911; www.pendleton-oregon.org)
• The final stop for today will be the Tamástslikt (Tah-mahst-slickt) Cultural Center, operated by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla. Located just east of Pendleton off I-84, this is the only Oregon Trail interpretive facility that was built by native people to share their story of life as it was, is, and will be. Enjoy a snack in the Kinship Café, then listen to the fascinating adventures of Coyote, hear the stories Tribal history, and explore the Tribe's visions for the future. For the golfer, the Wildhorse Resort & Casino 18-hole, championship golf course offers great challenge in the beautiful setting at the base of the Blue Mountains. Or, try your luck at the casino, the Pacific Northwest’s highest paying. (1-800-654-9453; www.tamastslikt.com or try www.wildhorseresort.com)
