Pendleton, Oregon, Preserves and Promotes Its Heritage

Named a 2008 Top Town By True West

In 1868—140 years ago—pioneer Moses Goodwin donated two acres of land for a new town site. Pendleton, Oregon, was up and running.

Its international fame is primarily based on the Pendleton Round-up, which made its debut in 1910. Its Victorian downtown area is a beautiful national historic district that helps attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. All combine to make Pendleton the Number 7 True Western Town of 2008.

The announcement comes in the January/February issue of True West Magazine, one newsstands January 15, 2008. The Number 1 Town is St. Joseph, Missouri.

Among the Pendleton attractions: the old train depot, which now houses the Heritage Station Museum run by the Umatilla County Historical Society. It features an 1879 log cabin and a one-room schoolhouse built in 1878. Also found downtown is the Tamastlikt Cultural Institute, which honors 10,000 years of history for the local Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tribes.

“Pendleton is a real cowboy town, as the Round-up shows,” says True West Executive Editor Bob Boze Bell. “But the local efforts to preserve and maintain history and culture are really impressive. Residents should be proud of what they’ve done—and continue to do.”

The ongoing efforts include the urban renewal district, which looks for new ways to use old buildings. Last year, renovation of the Hamley Saddle Shop Building was completed. A façade restoration grant program is doling out more than $900,000 over a two-year period. And the county tourism budget hit $124-million in 2007—much of it going to promoting and marketing Pendleton and its attractions.

Past top town recipients: Helper, Utah (2007) and Sheridan, Wyoming (2006).

True West editors determine winners for this annual award based on criteria demonstrating how each town preserves its history through old buildings, museums and other institutions, events and promotion of historic resources.

The feature includes Towns to Watch for their good works in historic preservation and several legendary locales folks should know.

True West magazine is in its 55th year of leading the way in presenting the true stories of Old West adventure, history, culture and preservation. For subscriptions and more information, visit http://www.twmag.comor call 888-687-1881.

Contact: Mark Boardman

765-491-4063 mailto:mboardman@twmag.com