Pendleton

For over 30 years we have passed by Pendleton, perhaps stopping for gas or to spend the night in a motel along the Interstate, but never to venture into the town. We spent the night of October 14th, once again along the Interstate, but the next day we saw a little of the town.

The first thing we did was visit Pendleton Woolen Mills where we went on a short tour of the mills. We saw the process from raw wool to finished blankets and then visited the shop where there were many beautiful woolen goods to look at as we tried to decide what we wanted. We went to a saddle makers after that, but they weren't making saddles while we were there, but we could seee the saddles for sale and also a nice art gallery in the shop

We then went on a brief tour of the "Art Center," but it had very little of interest, but a nice gift shop. Then on to a tour of the Pendleton Underground. It was a tour of businesses that had once been under the city blocks, including a Chinese laundry, a bar, a speakeasy (from Prohibition times), an ice cream and candy manufactory (they sold the items above the underground), a butcher who also sold upstairs. There were areas where the Chinese lived and tunnels between things. It was an interesting tour.

We also had a delicious lunch at a little deli across from the Underground. From there we took the Interstate back to the Umatilla Reservation where we toured a Cultural Center which told about the various tribes who hpopulate the area and their history. It was a very well done exhibit.

One of the interesting sidelights of the Pendleton was the "charms" you could purchase at each "stop" on their tour map. We didn't go to all the places as it would take more than a day to do so, but we did pick up some interesting charms (blanket and sheep from the Woolen Mills, a saddle from the sadlery, a teepee from the Cultural Center, etc.). It was an interesting visit and we are glad we finally stopped instead of just passing trough on I-84! I wonder how many things I miss in my regular life because I don't take time to see more!