Pullman
The Palouse Country and Spokane Region

accommodations

Cougar Plaza, Pullman

Pullman is located in the heart of the Palouse Country. With a wintertime population of 27,000 people and a summertime population half that size, the atmosphere in Pullman is dynamic.

Pullman is many things rolled into one: a long-established farming community whose many residents are fourth and fifth generation Pullman area farmers; a local business community where merchants and business leaders know residents by name; and a university community, with 18,000 college students plus staff. These various personalities blend well in Pullman and give the area a cosmopolitan flavor, the city community providing charm and security, and the university community providing cultural activity and energy.

Pullman Artesian Well

Pullman was founded in its current location because of the water. It was originally named Three Forks, after the three small rivers that converge here (Missouri Flat Creek, Dry Fork, and the South Palouse). The most important feature for the new settlement was the abundance of fresh, potable water provided by a series of natural artesian wells. This guaranteed water supply was a great asset for growing a community and future city. The railroad (1833) and a land grant college (1892) would guarantee Three Forks/Pullman's survival. There are two stories about how Three Forks eventually became Pullman. One version says that the early city fathers changed the name of their community to Pullman in order to win a considerable endowment from George Pullman, of railroad car fame and fortune. The other, somewhat more colorful version, says that the burgeoning town of Three Forks wanted a Fourth of July celebration and fireworks display worthy of its status as a growing city. The city fathers offered to name the town after the individual who agreed to sponsor or provide a major financial contribution to this effort. George Pullman answered the call - rumor has it for a donation somewhere in the neighborhood of $25. The story also says his contribution was accompanied by a written note asking that the town now leave him alone!

The town was finally incorporated in 1886 with a population of 250 people. The community got its Fourth of July celebration that year, a tradition that continues to this day thanks to excellent fire fighting practices. Pullman was decimated by two major fires, one on July 4, 1886 and another on July 3, 1890. It's also had its share of devastating floods, thanks to the three rivers that attracted settlers to the area in the first place. Once effective practices were established to get that abundant water out of the rivers and on to the fires, Pullman thrived.

Sunset on Steptoe Butte

Pullman is set upon four major hills and is divided in nearly perfect quarters thereby. Each hill has its own community park, including playgrounds for small children (Harrison Tot Lot on Military Hill); the soccer/softball areas, winter sledding hills, and sheltered grilling area and playground equipment of Kruegel (pronounced "CREW-gull") Park on Pioneer Hill; McGee Park and Reaney (pronounced "Rainy") Parks on College Hill, and the youngest of the city's parks, Sunnyside Park on Sunnyside Hill, with large softball diamonds, a great pond and babbling brook, a large sheltered area for grilling, and rolling hills of grass for enjoying the sunshine or the snow. Reaney Park is one of the oldest parks in town and houses the city's swimming pools, bandstand, playground equipment, a beautiful tree canopy, and plays host to many of the community's festivals and celebrations. During the summer, catch the 6-week Concerts In The Park series on Wednesdays, which begins each outdoor musical evening with a buffet dinner catered by a local restaurant.

WSU - Washington State University

The northeastern most hill is College Hill, so-named as it is the site of Washington State University. The University opened as the state's Agricultural College and School of Science with twenty-one students in 1892, became Washington State College in 1905, and Washington State University in 1959. Undergraduate and graduate education is offered in intellectual and technical pursuits, in any of seven colleges. The campus is gorgeous, with buildings of mostly Palouse-made red brick situated on a steep hillside majestically overlooking the downtown area. The bright red face of the Bryan Hall clock tower is a highly recognizable WSU and Pullman landmark. Some of the campus buildings are currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The WSU campus is an accomplishment of engineering and architecture. The surrounding wheat farms and town keep Washington State University relatively compact, such that additions and extensions of the university facilities have started going underground, being built into the hills and under existing structures, and leaving campus greenspaces intact. The university has some wonderful libraries for travelers interested in research, and many museums of interest, including anthropological exhibits, art galleries, flora and fauna displays, and an observatory. WSU also has its own brand of cheese, quite renowned. It's uniquely processed and sold in sealed cans! A visit to Pullman should include a visit to Ferdinand's dairy on campus, where you can enjoy fresh dairy milk, ice cream, and pick up a tin of their famous, canned Cougar Gold cheese.

Festivals and Celebrations

Palouse farmland

Pullman is a farming community, and when you've got something special, flaunt it. That's what Pullman does every harvest season with the annual National Lentil Festival. Known around the world as a staple at dinner tables, the lentil suffers unexplained obscurity in the U.S. A lentil can best be described as a flat, tasty pea. It's quite versatile, and Pullman is making sure it gets the respect it deserves. You may never have another experience like this, and you will go away with a great appreciation for this "irresistible little legume".

The town of Johnson

Pullman is part of a Fourth of July circuit celebrated in and around the communities of the Palouse. Several communities have coordinated their events, so you can spend the day "town-hopping" from one community to another and not miss the fun. For example, for many years Moscow, Idaho (just 8 miles east of Pullman) started their fireworks display several minutes after Pullman's display ended, so those who wanted to could catch both spectacles. An absolute must is the Fourth Of July Parade in Johnson, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it community just a few miles south of Pullman. The main street is about a mile long with the parade of homemade gadgets, local kids, modified farm machinery, outlandish costumes and always great humor running its length and doubling back on itself. Some of the entries have become traditional, while others change every year mocking current events in a good-natured send-up. As always, the parade is made up of whoever shows up on time, with no clearly planned or organized events. So, you can just as easily plan to watch the fun as join it! Pullman's contribution to Fourth of July starts at 5pm at Sunnyside Park and is topped off with a brilliant fireworks display later in the evening.

Calendar of Community Events
Washington State Junior Miss Program (January)
This is a 3-night event held at Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum featuring community Junior Miss winners vying for the state title and a trip to Mobile, Alabama for the national competition. More than 40 high school seniors from around the state compete for scholarships. The program is open to the public, and shows the young women in entertaining competitions such as physical fitness, poise, and talent presentations. The event culminates on Saturday evening with the selection of the top 10 finalists and a state winner.

PAC-10 Cougar Basketball (January to March)

The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow (February)
At the University of Idaho campus in Moscow. Enjoy four live evening performances by some of the best jazz musicians in the world, and headliner Lionel Hampton. Past performances include the Marsalis Brothers, Diana Krall, Lou Rawls and Stanley Turrentine. For ticket information and reservations, cal the IU Ticket Office at 1-88-88-UIDAHO or, locally, at 208-885-7212.

Mardi Gras in Moscow (1st Saturday in March)
The Palouse's own Mardi Gras celebration. Community members wear costumes and masks, and a costume ball is held downtown with many locations offering live music for dancing.

Uniontown Sausage Feed in Uniontown (1st Sunday in March)
This all-you-can-eat event is held the 1st Sunday in March, in the Community Building at Uniontown, about 20 miles south of Pullman on US 195.

Mom's Weekend at Washington State University (April)

Renaissance Fair in Moscow (1st weekend in May)
This celebration has been held since 1978 in East City Park in Moscow (continue eastward straight through town if you're coming from Pullman). The event features northwest artists and crafters as well as a variety of international foods. For kids, there are skits, mimes and clowns. Everyone is invited to attend, in or out of costume, to celebrate the arrival of Spring. Live music is played throughout both days of the celebration.

Farmer's Market in Moscow (every Saturday, May to October)
The open-air market is open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Come by and browse or buy, and meet neighbors. Vendors display and sell fresh flowers, fruit, vegetables and plants. There's also live music, arts and crafts.

Fourth of July Celebration (July 4)
Held at Sunnyside Park beginning at 5:00 p.m. with outdoor grilling, events, entertainment, and a fantastic fireworks display after dark. It's a wonderful way to top off a full day events around the Palouse. This is the culmination of a day of celebrations, beginning in the morning with a parade in Johnson followed by a community picnic in Albion.

National Lentil Festival Weekend (late August)
The annual Lentil Festival started in 1988, and has grown into a two-day event. Held late in August, there's music and food on Friday night followed by an all-day Saturday extravaganza, including a Lentil Pancake Breakfast, a 5k run, arts & crafts, food court presented by local restaurants, a children's area with fishing derby, face painting and hands-on crafts, a Grand Parade and Little Lentil Sprout Parade, a Little Lentil King & Queen coronation, microbrew tasting, live music and entertainment. Some of the great lentil goodies you can try include stews, breads and ice cream! Some undisputed highlights include the Lentil Cook-Off Taste Test and the 200 gallons (556 litres) of lentil chili, free for the tasting.

PAC-10 Cougar Football (September to November)
The WSU Cougar football season ends the Saturday before Thanksgiving with the Apple Cup, the spirited state rivalry between the WSU Cougars and UofW Huskies. This event is held at WSU's Martin Stadium every other year, 2002, 2004, 2006, etc. On alternate years, you'll need to travel to UofW's Husky Stadium in Seattle for the fun and games.

Palouse Country Cowboy Poetry & Western Music Festival (4th weekend in September)
Events are held in Pullman and Moscow. Enjoy poetry, music and various activities, western art, tack and craft booths, BBQ, and horse & buggy rides.

WSU Homecoming & PAC-10 Football (October)

Holiday Arts & Crafts Show (October)
Held every October at the Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum on the WSU campus. Talented artists from all around display and sell their work.

Dad's Weekend at Washington State University (early November)

Apple Cup (last Saturday before Thanksgiving, in November)
This is the state rivalry PAC-10 football match-up between the Cougars and the Huskies. The game rotates between WSU and UofW annually. It's played on the Palouse in even years, and in Seattle in odd years. It's also very well attended, so plan ahead and get tickets early. For game time and ticket information, call 1-800-GO-COUGS, or locally call 335-9626.

Pancake Feed (1st weekend in December)
This annual community event, with music, entertainment and a fantastic pancake breakfast, is sponsored by the local chapter of Kiwanis.

Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony (1st Saturday in December)
In downtown Pullman, at Main and Grand. Santa is there each year, and there's caroling and other holiday festivities.

Bite of Pullman (1st Tuesday in December)
Come and taste delectable dishes from 14-20 different local restaurants. For more information on location and participants, and how to get involved, call 334-3565, or 1-800-365-6948.

Now that you know why you should come to Pullman, here's how to get there:
Pullman is located off Highway 195 in southeastern Washington. There's a local airport serving Pullman and Moscow that handles commuter and commercial flights, and bus service (Greyhound). Pullman has public transportation providing service between town and campus, airport and town, and between Pullman and Moscow. Service is also provided between the Pullman-Moscow Airport and Spokane's International Airport.

Distances to Pullman from

Spokane - 72 miles (116 km) Seattle - 270 miles (435 km) Portland, Ore - 340 miles (547 km) Boise, Ida - 300 miles (483 km) Vancouver, BC - 430 miles (692 km)

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Cities, Towns & Other Destinations List Palouse Country and Spokane Region