The orchard
that one can see today when visiting the mission grounds at Whitman
Mission National Historic Site is only a small sample of what would
have been growing in the 1840's. Upon arrival in the Northwest and
during her stay at Fort Vancouver, Mrs. Whitman saved the seeds of
every fruit she ate, to be transported and planted approximately 200
miles east at Waiilatpu. The orchard did well and there were 75 apple
trees, as well as peach trees. Mrs. Whitman also wrote to her family
in the East requesting seeds for locust, chestnut, and walnut trees.
Locust trees can still be seen on the mission grounds today.
The Oregon
Volunteers arrived at Waiilatpu in March, 1848 and found that the
orchard had been destroyed by the Cayuse sometime in the previous
three months. The orchard was replanted in 1955 with old-fashioned
apple varieties, such as Spizenberg, Northern Spy, Baldwin, and Winesap.
Since then trees have been added or replaced as necessary. It still
provides a peaceful place to go on warm summer day.
