| | Pendleton Oregon is nationally famous for its annual Roundup, and is nestled between the hills of the Umatilla River. Located on the Oregon Trail, settlers in the 1840s often stayed here when traveling west. The Rodeo Grounds features the Round-up Hall of Fame, which educates rodeo fans on the history of the Pendleton Round-Up, one of the country's largest and oldest rodeos, as well as cowboy and Indian memorabilia.The Umatilla County Historical Society Museum is located in Pendleton's 1909 train depot. Train buffs can view historic photographs, memorabilia of the area's sheep industry and wool mills, local Indian artifacts, and even a working railroad telegraph system.Pendleton also features more than 70 miles of underground tunnels that were dug by the Chinese between 1870 and 1930. In 1989, some of the tunnels were restored and exhibits were used to recreate some of the business that used to be located there. Ice plants, butcher shops, and Chinese laundries flourished underground, as well as illegal saloons, bordellos and opium dens. An above ground "Cozy Room" leads to Miss Stella's bordello and boarding house. Pendleton's population of 3,000 once supported 18 bordellos and 32 saloons!The Pendleton Woolen Mills is a popular attraction. The Mills opened in 1909 to weave blankets for the local Indians, and still fulfills that purpose today. State of the art tours of the factory start with headsets for visitors, who can see the spinning machines and watch the shuttles of the automatic looms as they weave the brightly colored, geometric Pendleton designs.The quaint brick front downtown storefronts and stunning Queen Anne homes in the nearby neighborhoods are a vision of America's pioneer heritage. Pendleton offers a lot to history buffs and old west fans, and is sure to be a welcome visit for the whole family. |  | | | |
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