Before the wagon trains of the 1840’s and before the Whitman Mission in 1836, a small outpost on the Columbia River near the mouth of the Walla Walla River called Fort Walla Walla was established for the purpose of fur trading.
First called Fort Nez Perce it was established by the British fur trading company known as The Hudson’s Bay Company. Between 1818 to 1855, three forts were built and manned by British and French-Canadian fur trappers. During the Indian uprisings the fort was abandoned and years later that site became the town of Wallula.
Built by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1818 and manned by French – Canadian trappers, Fort Walla Walla was the site of the first European descendants bringing their culture to the West. It is believed it was here that the first vineyards and wines were made in the inland Northwest.