Pendleton

Pendleton is a city of 17,000 people (2019) in Eastern Oregon. The city is set in a pleasant valley set among hilly cropland on the I-84 several hours east of Portland. It is the location of one of the manufacturing plants of Pendleton Woolen Mills.

Understand

The town is the cultural center of Eastern Oregon. Pendleton's "Old town" is listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation have their property nearby. They have established the Wildhorse Resort & Casino and golf course on the reservation to generate revenue for development and welfare. They have also built the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, for education and interpretation of their cultures.

History

A European-American commercial center began to develop here in 1851, when Dr. William C. McKay established a trading post at the mouth of McKay Creek. The city was named Pendleton, after politician and diplomat George H. Pendleton (1825–1889), who served as a U.S. representative and senator from Ohio.

By 1900, Pendleton had a population of 4,400 and was the fourth-largest city in Oregon. The Pendleton Woolen Mills and Pendleton Round Up became features of the city captured in early paintings by Walter S. Bowman. Like many cities in Eastern Oregon, where thousands of Chinese immigrant workers built the transcontinental railroad, it had a flourishing Chinatown that developed as the workers settled here. The sector is supposed to have been underlain by a network of tunnels, which are now a tourist attraction. The authenticity as a Chinese tunnel system has been questioned.

Climate

Pendleton has a semi-arid climate with short, cool winters and hot summers.

Get in

By plane

More distant airport options include:

  • Walla Walla (ALW IATA) (40 miles away on OR-Hwy 11/WA-Hwy 125) with Alaska/Horizon service to Seattle
  • Pasco's Tri-Cities Airport (PSC IATA) (70 miles away via divided Interstate highways) with multiple connections on Alaska, Allegiant, Delta, and/or United Express.

By bus
  • Greyhound, (Bus stop) Pendleton Market/Unocal 76 @ 2101 SE Court Ave, ☏ +1 541 276-1551, toll-free: +1 800 231-2222. Greyhound travels primarily on Interstate 84 (Portland, Hood River, The Dalles, Baker City, Stanfield/Hermiston, Pendleton, La Grande, Ontario, Nampa, Boise, Twin Falls, Burley, Tremonton, Ogden and/or Salt Lake City). Passengers transfer buses in Portland, Salt Lake City, Boise and Stanfield to reach additional destinations. Buses going towards Seattle (via Yakima & Ellensburg) and Spokane (via Tri-Cities) leave from Stanfield. (updated Dec 2016)
  • 🌍 Kayak Public Transit (operated by Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation (CTUIR)), (bus stops) Wal-Mart @ SW 20th; Pendleton City Hall @ SW Dorian & 4th; and Til Taylor Park @ SE 8th & Emigrante (Major stops are Arrowhead Travel Plaza, Wildhorse Casino and SW 20th St next to Walmart. Check schedules for specific locations and additional stops), ☏ +1 541 429-7519. Connections to Walla Walla, Hermiston, La Grande and Mission (on Umatilla Indian Reservation). They also operate a local shuttle in town as public transportation. 
  • Grant County (Oregon) People Mover, (bus stop) Wal-Mart @ 2203 SW Court Ave, ☏ +1 541 575-2370. Connects Walla Walla, WA to Monument, OR through Milton-Freewater, Pendleton, Pilot Rock, Ukiah, Dale and Long Creek. Passengers transfer in Monument to reach John Day and Bend in Central and Eastern Oregon. Schedules are limited so check schedules closely before using this option. Additional stop at the airport by prearranged reservation only. (updated Mar 2019)

Distances

See

Do

Buy

Eat
  • 🌍 Roosters, 1515 Southgate Pl (Southbound 395 from exit 209 on the I-84). 7AM- 8PM (F Sa until 8:30PM). Good breakfast menu served until 3PM. 
  • 🌍 Great Pacific, 403 South Main (S Main & SW Emigrate), ☏ +1 541 276-1350. M-Th 10AM-9PM, F Sa 10AM-10PM. Great and friendly atmosphere. Several beers on tap, and quite the wine selection. Not open Sunday. 

Drink

Sleep

A number of hotels presented are clustered around SE Nye St & 3rd off of Exit #210 of I-84 and in the downtown area along Court, Dorian or Emigrant Ave (the main east west streets through town).

Bed and breakfasts
  • 🌍 Pendleton House Historic Inn, 311 North Main (two blocks uphill from the Umatilla River), ☏ +1 541 276-8581, . This charming 1910s pink mansion is a delight on many levels. The building combines original drapes and wall coverings with period-appropriate furniture and a collection of spectacular rugs. The five rooms range from luxury suite to comfortable bed with shared bath — where you can choose between a 1930s wrap-around spray shower and a period bathtub. Breakfasts are delicious. The capstone is Tracy, your endlessly friendly and helpful host. His partner Kevin can brief you on the restoration they did, and Kevin's dad might bring produce fresh from his garden. $135-349, plus tax, includes breakfast. (updated Aug 2017)

Camping

Cope

Go next
Routes through Pendleton
The Dalles ← Hermiston ←  W  E  → La Grande → Boise
The Dalles ← Hermiston ←  W  E  → La Grande → Boise
Pasco ← Hermiston ←  N  S  → John Day → Burns
Walla Walla ← Milton-Freewater ←  N  S  → END


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