Historic Hood River
Pulpit Rock
Notes
Be honest, how many Hood River residents have seen Pulpit Rock in the Dalles?
For centuries the Dalles was a trading crossroads where Native American peoples of many tribes gathered to trade. It’s not surprising European missionaries chose this spot to proselytize. In 1838 a group of missionaries founded a mission, and held regular services at this spot. The plaque says,”Pulpit Rock: Rev. Jason Lee with Rev. Daniel Lee and Rev. H.K.W. Perkins founded Methodist Indian Mission Mar. 22, 1838.” It was also known as the Wascopam Mission.
In 1847 Marcus Whitman bought it, but after the Whitman Massacre and Cayuse Wars this became the site of the federal Fort Dalles.
The reverse of this card has a history lesson of another sort. The writer says she is listening to Italian opera singer Ezio Pinza singing “Tales of Hoffman” from San Francisco, presumably on her AM radio set.
Kenn
I have pictures of Pulpit Rock being used as a pulpit and another with an Indian on it. There were then no buildings in the area while it is now in the middle of a residential street.. Wasco County Museum at The Dalles Interpretive Center.has these and others of the site.
Kenn
I BELIEVE the rock is at 12th and Court on the south side of Wahtonka high school. I was told I missed the location of Bishops Cap so have lost a bit of confidence.
charlott
Another interesting person in connection with Rev. Jason Lee was Rev. Gustavus Hines. He was in Salem at Willamette Mission with Lee, very early on and in fact participated in the Champoeg Conference, where they tried to set up a fore runner government for the Oregon Territory. He later served in The Dalles and surrounding areas. Yes, I have family connections to Rev. Hines. He was a remarkable man in his own right…..
Darlene Boggs
Oh my, had no idea about this! Jason Lee is an ancestor of mine, will have to find this one soon!
Barbara Davis, West, Pheil, De
I was born in CA, raised in the Oak Grove area of Hood River Valley and as an adult, lived in The Dalles, 303 E 10th. My 5 sons and I walked paper routes in The Dalles and Pulpit Rock was in one of the routes. Was The Dalles High School renamed Wahtonka High? When we lived in The Dalles, Wahtonka High was out in the "country". I no longer live in OR and have enjoyed looking at all these wonderful photos. Thanks for the memories.
Marcus Whitman
"In 1847, Marcus Whitman bought it…"
Seriously…my distant cousin "bought it" in 1847 with a tomahawk from a rightfully disgruntled Cayuse.
Did he buy the rock itself?
Will go check it out the next time I make a run to The Dalles!
Thank you!
sian zander
1957 at midnight on Christmas eve… in a gentle snowfall… singing carols and sinking into my scarf and heart all at once. Feeling something profound before l knew the word. at this rock.