Legends of Pendleton: Figures, Myths, and the Spirit of Resilience

Pendleton, Oregon, is home to the Pendleton Round-Up, one of the nation’s largest and most renowned rodeos. While the Round-Up is an important cornerstone, there is so much more to Pendleton’s heritage and timeless Western charm. On this walking tour, you’ll hear local myths and stories about legendary characters while getting to know a town where reality outshines folklore.

The tour starts at the Heritage Station Museum, a restored railroad depot. You’ll weave through downtown’s historic brick buildings, many of which once hid basement speakeasies and upper-story brothels. Along the way, you’ll see bronze statues commemorating some of Pendleton’s notable figures.

You’ll learn how the community has demonstrated remarkable resilience time and time again, from the growth of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation into one of the region’s biggest employers, to the preservation of downtown in the face of fire and catastrophe. The tour ends on the bridge over the Umatilla River, where salmon have returned after being completely eradicated, thanks to restoration efforts led by the Tribes.

On this 60-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:

• Relive one of the most dramatic and historic performances in Round-Up history
• Look past the modern-day architecture to step into what was once the bustling center of 1900s Chinatown
• Hear the story of the “Triple Nickles,“ America’s first Black paratrooper battalion
• Visit Hamley & Co., the historic saddle shop that has served Native and non-Native cowboys since 1905
• Explore the legacy of Stella Darby, madame of one of Pendleton’s most notorious brothels

By the end of this tour, you’ll have a taste of what gives Pendleton its legendary reputation.

Downtown’s walkable layout makes this an accessible tour for most visitors. Learn more about the accessibility of this tour under the “Precautions” header below.

This tour was developed in partnership with the City of Pendleton and Travel Pendleton. Header photo provided by Joni Kabana.

CONTENT WARNING: This tour is largely family-friendly. However, there is content (although not vulgar or explicit) that may not be appropriate for some children. Additionally, we have chosen to use the term ’sex work’ in this tour. We acknowledge there are differing opinions about appropriate language – and that this topic involves more nuance than we can address here.