Pendleton, Oregon is a city of 16,612 in Eastern Oregon located in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, Pendleton is the county seat of Umatilla County and one of the largest communities in Oregon located east of the Cascade Mountains. Recently named as the best place in Oregon to raise a family by Bloomberg Businessweek, the city contains 21 beautiful parks that offer several activities such as biking, tennis, swimming, ice skating and horseshoeing.

Pendleton is well known for its Wild West culture, as evidenced in 2011 by True West magazine naming it the “Top True Western Town.” The event that Pendleton is best known for is the Pendleton Round-Up. Every September, about 50,000 people visit the city and Happy Canyon Arena to enjoy this rodeo that has been held annually since 1910. Other events such as a children’s rodeo and a parade accompany this prestigious event.

The Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame is also well worth a visit with exhibits available for viewing that detail the more than 100 years of Round-Up history. Inductions are made annually for special honorees.

The Umatilla County Historical Museum is a great place to learn more about the history of the region. The Children’s Museum of Eastern Oregon offers educational exhibits and activities aimed for the younger ones of the group. The Pendleton Center for the Arts allows visitors to enjoy local artistic performances and exhibits. Pendleton Woolen Mills, an international apparel-manufacturing company, still operates an original plant in Pendleton.

Pendleton Underground Tours is a popular year-round tourist attraction that offers a fascinating tour of the city’s red-light district and the area’s Old West heritage. Those who want to experience the Old West lifestyle in the present day do not have to go far, as the Wildhorse Resort & Casino calls Pendleton home. Visitors may also enjoy a trip to the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute located here where the history of local Native Americans that have lived in the area for more than 10,000 years may be learned.

There are 21 unique parks in Pendleton that offer a variety of activities including walkways and bike paths, tennis courts, horseshoes, disc golf, swimming, wading pool, ice skating, softball and baseball fields, skateboarding, basketball courts, playground equipment, restrooms, reserveable park shelters, picnic tables and BBQ grills, and a grass amphitheater. For more detailed park information please go to our parks and recreation section.

Pendleton is easy to access, as it is located less than four hours driving time from both Portland, Oregon, and Boise, Idaho. Air travel via SeaPort Airlines is also available. A number of Greyhound buses stop in Pendleton on a daily basis.

Pendleton History
Pendleton is an old cow town set in the steep hills along the Umatilla River. It is located along the Oregon Trail which fed a constant stream of settlers into the area, turning this area into a large ranching and farming center. Today Pendleton is one of the largest towns in eastern Oregon and the county seat of Umatilla County.

In 1863 a treaty was drawn with the local Indian tribes which called for the removal of the Nez Perce from their home country. Over the 14 years tension grew, fueled by provocative ads of settlers. In 18777 some of the more hot-blooded Nez Perce broke loose, attacked nearby settlements and the area broke into war U.S. soldiers were defeated in several battles which eventually culminated in Chief Joseph’s historic retreat through the growing winter. He led his brad of mostly women and children from the Wallowa Valley into Montana to within 50 miles of the Canadian border. The desperate brand fled over 1800 miles in 75 days winning three battle, tying one and losing one. He surrendered on October 5th, 1877 saying, “It is cold and we have no blankets.”

On October 25th, 1880, while boasting a opuulation of 730, the city of Pendleton was incorporated. The town was named in honor of Senator George H. Pendleton who was vice presidential candidate at the time. City hall was built at 34 S.E. Dorion in 1908 and housed all city services including Police, Fire and the School District.

The Pendleton Round-Up is held in the second full week of September and draws over 40,000 people to the area each year and and is billed as the USA’s best rodeo. The celebration was born in 1910 from the desire of a local attorney, Roy Raley, to have a rodeo after harvest. For the night show Raley instituted the Happy Canyon Pageant. The celebration was such a success that the townspeople bought land to house the event. They adopted the slogan, “Let’er buck” and are still buckin’ to this day. The celebration includes a parade, a old-fashion rodeo events, cowboy breakfasts, country music concert, dancing and art shows. Rodeo fans will enjoy the Round-up Hall of Fame, which is located near the Rodeo Grounds.

The Pendleton Woolen Mills were started by Thomas Kay in 1909 to weave Indian blankets. As a young man Kay had come from England to work in east coast textile mills. In 1863 he headed west to try his hand at wool production and manufacture in the lush, green valleys in Oregon. Kay helped organize Oregon’s second woolen mill in Brownsville where he oversaw the weaving operation. He soon opened his mill in Salem, Oregon and later started the Pendleton Woolen Mills along with his able daughter, her merchant husband, C.P. Bishop, and three sons, Clarence, Roy and Chauncy.

The Bishop’s had an intuitive business sense for quality and style. They studied the color and dsesign techiniques of local and southwest Native American tribes and produced a distinctive line of blankets with vivid colors and distinctive patterns. Trde expanded from the nearby Nez Perce nation to the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni nations. The blankets were used as both trading credit and clothing fo the tribes, the also became prized for ceremonial use.