Pendleton explores its history through a variety of themes: the Oregon Trail, the Round-Up, textile manufacturing and museums covering subjects from agriculture to aviation. Outdoors, you can choose from a tour of bronze statues and public art, a parkway along the Umatilla River, and trails for runners, hikers and mountain bikers. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing the annual Round-Up dates from the museums and routes that are interesting at other times of the year.

The Round-Up and Regional History

The Pendleton Round-Up takes place each year during the second full week of September. The weeklong celebration of Western heritage includes parades, concerts and a nightly stage show. If you are planning your trip specifically around the event, check the exact dates and current program: individual events may change. The first Pendleton Round-Up took place on September 29, 1910; this date marks the historic beginning, not the date of the present-day event.

Pendleton was also a stopping point on the Oregon Trail. The Pendleton Round-Up & Happy Canyon Hall of Fame preserves the tradition and history of the Round-Up and Happy Canyon. The two institutions therefore have different focuses: the Hall of Fame is dedicated to the events’ heritage, while other museums explore specific chapters of regional history.

At the Heritage Station Museum, you can step inside a one-room schoolhouse, the Fix family cabin and Pendleton’s historic 1909 train depot. The “Umatilla Gold” exhibit tells the story of wheat, from its early beginnings to its cultivation by local farmers today. Since exhibits may be updated or replaced, check whether “Umatilla Gold” is currently on display if you are particularly interested in it.

The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute’s permanent “WE WERE” exhibit presents the way of life of people before contact with Europe. It describes a way of life focused on self-sufficiency in an abundant natural environment, reflecting its balance and order. Its thematic focus therefore differs from exhibits on local agriculture and the Pendleton Round-Up.

Art, Textiles and Aviation

The Pendleton Center for the Arts offers exhibitions that may include hands-on art projects to participate in and take home. If one of these projects is important to you, check the current exhibition schedule, as individual offerings may change. All areas of the center are fully accessible.

A tour of the Pendleton Woolen Mills offers a distinct way to explore the textile theme; tour arrangements may change, so it is a good idea to check before planning. Separate from the tour, the original mill in Pendleton, Oregon, produces Jacquard fabrics and blankets. Textile production and the possibility of a tour are different points of interest for a visit.

The Pendleton Air Museum offers individual, group and private tours. It explores the significance of Pendleton Field Army Air Corps Base to the United States’ participation in World War II. If you are planning a particular type of tour, confirm the current arrangements in advance.

Trails by the River and Outdoors

The Pendleton River Parkway largely follows the south bank of the Umatilla River along the levee. The Bronze Trail, by contrast, is a walking tour through Pendleton focused on bronze statues and public artworks. The two routes therefore differ mainly in their stated focus: one follows the river, while the other features public art.

Northwest of Pendleton, near the airport, is the Pendleton Adventure Trails Recreation Area. Its trails range from easy to moderate and are intended for runners, hikers and mountain bikers. Pendleton Parks and Recreation also manages a trail network of more than 60 miles. These details describe different scales: a specific recreation area with a stated range of difficulty, and a larger trail network under separate management.

When choosing what to do, you can first decide what you are looking for: art and a town walk, a riverside route, or trails for running, hiking and mountain biking. Those interested in cultural history will find several distinct themes, from the Oregon Trail and the history of wheat to aviation. You can check tour arrangements, Round-Up dates and changing exhibitions as needed if they are important to your trip planning.

Discover more destinations: Umatilla, Hermiston, Milton-Freewater.

Go to the main travel overview: Umatilla.