Whether
you’re an art enthusiast, wine connoisseur, birder or
just looking for a weekend getaway, Walla Walla has something
for you.
Walla Walla was officially incorporated on January 11, 1862.
As a result of a gold rush, during this decade the city became
the largest community in the territory of Washington. Following
this period, agriculture became the city's primary industry.
Though wheat is still a big crop, vineyards and wineries
have become economically important. Leonetti Cellars was one
of the first wineries in Walla Walla and produces sought after
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In summer 2005, there were
64 wineries in the greater Walla Walla area.
The world-famous Walla Walla Sweet Onion is another crop
with a rich tradition. Over a century ago on the Island of
Corsica, off the west coast of Italy, a French soldier named
Peter Pieri found an Italian sweet onion seed and brought
it to the Walla Walla Valley.
Impressed by the new onion's winter hardiness, Pieri, and
the Italian immigrant farmers who comprised much of Walla
Walla's gardening industry, harvested the seed. The sweet
onion developed over several generations through the process
of carefully hand selecting onions from each year's crop,
ensuring exceptional sweetness, jumbo size and round shape.
Walla Walla Washington Information: Official
City Web Page | Chamber
of Commerce
[Some material adapted from
Wikipedia. Photo from City of Walla Walla website.]
