Discover history, one exhibit at a time
Every room at the Kirkman House Museum holds a story—about the people who built Walla Walla, the era they lived in, and the objects that shaped daily life. Our exhibits and events offer a closer look at the past, helping visitors connect with history in unexpected ways.
PERMANENT EXHIBIT
Windows to the Past
Walk through Victorian parlors, family bedrooms, and the grand dining room, all furnished with authentic 19th-century pieces. Original artifacts like the Edison cylinder phonograph and an 1881 square-grand piano bring the era’s sights and sounds to life.
When you visit, you’re not just seeing artifacts—you’re stepping into the stories of the people who lived, worked, and dreamed here.
Signature Events & Special Exhibits
The Kirkman House isn’t just about the past—it’s about creating memories today. Our calendar features beloved traditions like the Victorian Christmas, Mad Hatters Tea Party, Sheep to Shawl, and holiday celebrations that fill the house with laughter and life once again. Our rotating exhibits focus on themes that matter—from fashion to family life to community milestones.
Whether it’s a display of vintage wedding gowns or a showcase on Walla Walla’s early businesses, there’s always something new to explore!
Members and Friends Holiday Reception
Join our holiday reception for members and friends.
You will be entertained by good cheer, holiday music, Living History characters, Christmas carolers, and more. Santa will be on hand to delight guests, young and old alike.
Highlighting festive colors and traditional decor of the Victorian era, the museum will be decked out in holiday style. Glad tidings abound as volunteers in period attire welcome visitors to a wonderful afternoon of entertainment and celebration.
Victorian Christmas
You will be entertained by good cheer, holiday music, Living History characters, Christmas carolers, and more. Santa will be on hand to delight guests, young and old alike.
Highlighting festive colors and traditional decor of the Victorian era, the museum will be decked out in holiday style. Glad tidings abound as volunteers in period attire welcome visitors to a wonderful afternoon of entertainment and celebration.
Light refreshments will be served throughout the day. Tour the museum for free and enjoy the lively festivities.
Mad Hatters Tea Party
Join us for fashion fun inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic favorite, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland.
We invite you to wear your own special or unique hat. The museum will have a display of hats from which you can borrow one to match your outfit. Hats from all decades will be available for sale, and prizes will be awarded for the most unique and special hats.
Enjoy our beloved tea offerings at cozy tables set with china and silver. Fruit, sandwich, and dessert courses will be served by the Kirkman House staff.
Come on your own or invite your mother, daughter, or friends to the Mad Hatter Tea at Kirkman House Museum.
Kids First Summer Camp
Join us for a fun-filled week of history, science, creativity, and old-fashioned games!
Dates: Monday, June 15 – Friday, June 19
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily
Cost: $20 per child per day or $80 for the five-day week
Reservations are required:
For more information, call the museum at 509-529-4373 or Pam at 509-520-1570.
Campers should bring a sack lunch each day. Snacks and water will be provided by the museum.
Daily Schedule
Monday, June 16 – Textile Day
Discover the world of spinning, weaving, and dyeing! Campers will dye their own t-shirts to take home.
Tuesday, June 17 – History in Action
Learn about the Battle of Bunker Hill, then reenact it with water balloons! Kids will also play classic games from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Wednesday, June 18 – Craft Day
Get creative with a variety of crafts, including painting without brushes. Campers will take their handmade projects home.
Thursday, June 19 – Rock & Roll (Geology Edition)
Explore local geology, learn how to pan for gold, and take home a collection of cool rocks.
Friday, June 20 – Unplugged Fun
No screens, no batteries—just pure fun! We’ll enjoy puzzles, classic games, and hands-on projects. Each child will take home a game or two.
Sheep to Shawl
This free event will delight the entire family. Children will love seeing the sheep. Visitors will also enjoy demonstrations of wool carding, dyeing, spinning and weaving. Lace making and knitting on a vintage sock machine will also be demonstrated.
Handmade items from local and regional vendors will be available for purchase. They will include a wide variety of woolen and fiber clothing, raw and ready to spin fiber, hand-spun and hand-dyed yarns, and spinning and weaving equipment.
Adam West Day
Kirkman House Museum is excited to present Adam West as we celebrate the life of the TV hero and the hometown boy Bill Anderson. The son of a farmer-father and an entertainer-mother, Bill attended Green Park Elementary, Walla Walla High School and Lakeside in Seattle. He returned to the valley in 1946 to attend Whitman College.
Explore Bill’s path after Whitman to his early days in Hollywood when he adopted the name Adam West and won the role that would define his career.
Here Comes the Bride
Through a remarkable array of bridal gowns, discover the evolution of wedding fashion from the elaborately adorned, circa 1900, to the elegantly understated, circa 1960s.
See how the royal wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840, and the glamorous marriage of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956, captured the imaginations of American brides and influenced their choices in wedding attire.
Join us this summer to celebrate the artistry and sentiment behind these cherished garments, many donated to the museum by Walla Walla families, which have marked life’s most memorable moments.
Whitman Ties: The Kirkmans and Whitman College
William Kirkman was a generous and civic-minded man, giving of both his time and his money. He and his wife Isabella were strong supporters of education. William was a founding member of the board of trustees at Whitman College and his donations and fundraising enabled Whitman to go from a seminary to a liberal arts college, with the building of College Hall in 1883. Isabella was very active in the social activities of the college. All four of their children attended Whitman College. Their daughter Fanny Ann married Allen Reynolds, Whitman's treasurer for many years.
In a significant act of philanthropy, Isabella Kirkman bequeathed her home to Whitman College in 1919,
reinforcing her family’s enduring commitment to the institution. This gesture aligned with Whitman’s
drive to amass funds for the new dormitory on campus, subsequently named Lyman Hall. Kirkman House served as the first men's dormitory for Whitman College that was not a fraternity for its short four-year existence before being sold to fund the new hall. Whitman's only Nobel prize winner, Walter Brattain, was a resident of the hall.
Four generations of Kirkmans attended Whitman, and one, Ruth Reynolds, became head librarian.
We invite to you come learn about these important connections between the Kirkman family and the history and growth of Whitman College.
