First House as it appeared
in 1998 at Whitman Mission National Historic Site. The old channel of the
river where the Whitmans' daughter, Alice Clarissa,
drowned is visible behind the outlined house foundation.
Part of the mission of
the National Park Service is to conserve the historic objects it was created
to protect. The only forseeable way to preserve Dr. Whitman's handiwork of
1836 was to cover it over with the earth that had protected it for a hundred
years prior to its excavation by archaeologists. Between 1959 and 1978, thousands
of visitors were able to view this glimpse of the past. It was a very popular
exhibit and is one of the most prominant memories mentioned by many of the
visitors who have revisited the site in recent years. However, had the National
Park Service not covered it over, there would not be much left of the adobe
wall section that Dr. Whitman created over 160 years ago.
