Umatilla County

The county seat moved three times in five years. The first county and circuit court sessions met in a store at Middleton, a settlement of three buildings here, in 1863 and 1864. Then the Blue Mountain gold strikes made Umatilla Landing on the Columbia the busy place, and the seat went there. In 1868 it came back inland to the new town of Pendleton. The board itself was a gift for Oregon's centennial: its foot line credits Pendleton Commandery No. 7 of the Knights Templar and the centennial year, 1959.

What the plaque says

Historic Oregon Trail Umatilla County Weary emigrants traveling westward on the Oregon Trail favored a campsite on the near bank of the Umatilla River at this point. On leaving they climbed the same hill the highway now traverses. Then recrossed the Umatilla River at Echo 20 hot dusty miles westerly. In the years 1863-64 at this site a settlement composed of 3 buildings called Middleton. The first county and circuit court sessions were held in Swift and Martins store. Discovery of gold in the Blue Mts. area boomed Umatilla Landing on the Columbia River, and the county seat was moved there. In 1868 the county seat was relocated in Pendleton. Donated by Pendleton Commandary No. 7 K.T. of Oregon Centennial Year 1959

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Pendleton Woolen Mills — 2.7 mi
  A mill that has woven blankets for the tribes of the Plateau since 1909, whose oldest customers folded its blankets into their own ceremonies.
• Tamástslikt Cultural Institute — 8.1 mi
  The only tribally owned museum on the Oregon Trail, where the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tell the wagon migration from the side of the people it rolled through.

More markers nearby

• Triple Nickles - Pendleton — 2.0 mi
• Pendleton — 3.5 mi
• Emigrant Springs State Park — 20 mi
• Meacham — 23 mi