A Shelter for the Future: Celebrating 150 Years

In October 2025, the Walla Walla Museum will celebrate a significant milestone: the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Walla Walla and Columbia River Railroad (from Wallula to Walla Walla) and its prize locomotive, the Blue Mountain, the oldest surviving locomotive in Washington State. As part of this celebration, the Museum is embarking on an important project to preserve this historic treasure for future generations—a permanent shelter to protect the locomotive and its remarkable story.

A Historical Treasure

The Blue Mountain Locomotive, nicknamed and affectionately called Blue, stands as a symbol of the pioneering era that shaped Walla Walla and the broader region. From its early days on the Walla Walla & Columbia River Railroad to its time in Alaska’s Nome gold fields, the locomotive’s journey is one of resilience and adventure. As the oldest locomotive in the state, it offers a unique connection to the past and a tangible reminder of how railroads transformed the region's economy and helped build the thriving communities we know today.

A New Shelter to Safeguard Our History

Today, it is unprotected. Worse, it is tarped and hidden from sight at the entrance to Fort Walla Walla Museum for four months each year. To preserve this important piece of Washington State’s history, the Baker family and Fort Walla Walla Museum are partnering to construct an attractive and historically authentic shelter for Blue Mountain. Visitors will be able to visit Blue year-round. Imagine kids playing train conductor and families learning why rural Walla Walla thrives today.

Shelter Project Highlights

• Timeline: We aim to start construction in spring 2025 and complete the project in time for the 150th-anniversary celebration in October.

• Educational Displays: The shelter will feature interpretive panels and interactive exhibits, allowing visitors to explore the locomotive’s history, its role in regional development, and the pioneering spirit of those who built the railroads.

• Community Involvement: Local students and community members will be invited to contribute to the project through educational workshops, art, and public performances, ensuring the celebration of the Blue Mountain’s legacy is a shared experience.  There will be a celebration at Fort Walla Walla in October 2025 and the entire community is invited.

 Engaging Students in Preservation and History

The preservation of the Blue Mountain Locomotive is not just a project for today—it is an investment in the education and inspiration of future generations. As part of the 150th-anniversary celebration, we are involving students of all ages in a variety of hands-on learning and creative projects designed to connect them to the locomotive’s story.