When running these Mainly Marathon series of races, you find yourself in the smallest of towns. Some local Chambers of Commerce and townsfolk embrace the runners and throw swag and free museum admissions and even pasta parties (I feel like Dalhart, TX, did a big one the year I was at Dust Bowl, and a few other places have really rolled out the red carpet for us runners). Some don’t seem to know we’re here… they just know there’s a weird uptick in tourists.
Last night whilst checking in to the Knights Inn here in Pendleton, Oregon, the night manager was annoyed at having all these other folks checking in; she was going to sell out and people were coming at all hours of the day and night. Some of the pre-paid bookings didn’t get processed into her computer so she was struggling with the vacancy/no vacancy. But it seemed odd that she was so upset to be, well, selling out. Even stranger as I suspect next week for the annual rodeo here called the Pendleton Round-Up she’ll be once again seeing sell-out capacities.
The Round-Up is a big deal here. There’s a multi-day festival, complete with rodeo competitions, parades, pageants, a Round-Up Court of lovely ladies (both Native American and Cowgirl competitions), and most of it is run by volunteers… though based on the merchandising for sale throughout this small town, SOMEBODY is making money on this deal.
It is a slice of Americana, of the sort of thing Buffalo Bill might have toured through the country to show the Wild West as it may have been. I wandered through the Happy Valley Hall of Fame and Museum and snapped some photos to capture a bit of the flavor. I somewhat balked at the $5 admission fee but if it helps preserve something unique to this place, some identity that hasn’t been homogenized into a Wal-Mart/McDonald’s/Jack FM sameness, then really it’s money well spent.
Featuring People AND Livestock
Like War Paint.
Let ‘Er Buck — A Saloon
And yet more info on the livestock that will form part of the Hall of Fame.
There’s an “unofficial event” involving Wild Cow Milking. This sounds like something to see.
And yet there is NOT a panel listing the winners of the Wild Cow Milking Contest. What’s up with THAT, Pendleton Round-Up?!
Am I not supposed to touch it because it’s in a glass case or because there’s a skunk in there?
Rodeo Clowns also eat children. You’ll float too.
There’s a lack of advertising and that makes it unique. You know what? I find that charming.
There was NO sound even though the door was open. #FakeSign.
This is Bertha Blanchett.
A legendary cowgirl… I actually found this really inspiring.
Just read this pull quote!
That’s WAR PAINT, y’all!
***
I also wandered the streets and tried to just soak up a bit of the vibe of this place. It’s not The Palm Springs of the Washington, and not just because this is Oregon — I passed a place that billed itself as that on the drive out and FYI for your information that’d be Yakima, WA.
Instead, here are a few choice photos from Pendleton, whose motto is seemingly “What a Kick!”
Entering Pendleton.
On the outskirts of Pendleton.
Main Street, Pendleton, OR. Getting ready for the Round-Up next week.
The Virgin and the Whore is on the nose at Main Street. Two opposing statues, one for Stella Darby, local madame at the Cozy Rooms.
Stella Darby, the most famous madame in Pendleton who ran the Cozy Rooms brothel from 1928 until her retirement in 1967.
Gazing on at Stella from the opposite side is the “mother of Pendleton” one of the founders of the town by the name of Aura Goodwin Raley.
Here’s Aura Goodwin Raley’s story.
She doesn’t seem nearly as much fun as Stella Darby.
I much preferred stadning next to Stella Darby.
Who could resist standing next to famed madame Stella Darby?
The Historical Marker for the Oregon Trail
My dramatic recreation of dying from dystenery.
Save the clock tower! Save the clock tower!
I was fascinated with this store. Somebody’s dream was to combine his or her two great loves: billiards and vacuum cleaners.
But watch out! This store is expanding into DART SUPPLIES!
There was a family here. I so wished the kid had said, “Poppa, is THIS where they died of dysentery?”
At the Hertiage Station Museum, the Pendleton town and its annual events are featured. They have a Scottish games and I, well, stitched together me in the various heads.
In the Heritage Station Museum, there was an area trivia quiz. I don’t know if this is #FakeNews or not.
Meachem, Oregon, claimed in a local newspaper from July 1923 that Warren G. Harding DID declare the place the capital for the day. Source: http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/localstate/4091332-151/for-a-day-meacham-was-capital-of-the
Also in the Heritage Station Musuem, a telephone booth as an exhibit. Not sure if it was because there was an old-timey rotary dial pay phone or if because the kids of today don’t know what a payphone is AT ALL.
A lovely story about what a phone booth represents, and the stories it COULD tell if only it had a means of communication. Isn’t it ironic?
Also at the Heritage Station Museum, there was this. And I couldn’t help but think, “How loose is your caboose, Pendleton?”
The old Pendleton Cinema has apparently been for sale since 2015.
Based on the faded movie posters on the glass doors, it appears the final movies screened at the Pendleton Cinema were the Divegent and Spongebob Squarepants sequels. That’s perhaps the saddest thing I’ve seen in ages. I’m not sure if I were overseeing the final days of a cinema what I’d want as my last movie shown but it would NOT be either of these two.
I stand corrected. An Out Of Order Ms Pac Man arcade table is perhaps the saddest thing in Pendleton. On the plus side, it’s a reason for the Prodigal Son to return at some stage.
That’s one big boot, eh, Boss?
The Cattle Drive Sculpture at Exit 209 of I-84. Nice job keeping it clean, Babs. God, I hope that’s Barbara Streisand. Wouldn’t that be something?
If you’re not the lead cow, the view never changes.
So, do you use GPS for Cattle Drives or what?
So I says to Mabel, I says…
Hello from the Cattle Drive sculpture at Exit 209 of I-84!
Hello from the Cattle Drive sculpture at Exit 209 of I-84!
Seriously, you ain’t the lead cow and the view never changes… and actually since this is a sculpture, even if you ARE the lead cow, the view never changes. Because, ya know, sculpture.
I love the optimism of this sign. Yeah, you can shut us down, Mr. Health Inspector. You can foreclose on us, Mr Banker. But that’s just for now. We’ll be back. Oh, we will be back. That’s the Western spirit personified!
