Our Community
We Love Living in Walla Walla
Big skies. Blue mountains. Friendly faces. Fun around every corner. Living in a cozy college town is an adventure. Whitman students, faculty and staff enjoy Walla Walla for its easy access to the outdoors, its welcoming and big-hearted personality, and its vibrant local culture. Take a closer look at the home of one of the best liberal arts colleges in the Northwest.
Walla Walla Is a Perfect Place to …
Get Involved
Walla Walla has endless opportunities to break out of the campus bubble—and Whitman’s ties to the community run deep. You’ll see Whitman faces volunteering in public schools, consulting with local nonprofits, leading local climate activism, performing with arts organizations and much more. Your talents and voice will be valued here.
Get Outside
Walla Walla is rich with parks, hiking and biking trails, lakes and streams, and wildlife preserves. Plus campus is just a short drive away from the beautiful Blue Mountains, Bluewood Ski Resort, the Columbia and Snake rivers, and breathtaking Palouse Falls. Into kayaking? Climbing? Snowboarding? Stargazing? Get ready to soak up all nature has to offer here.
Get a Northwest Experience
There’s something special about the Pacific Northwest. It’s filled with friendly, earnest people who genuinely care about making the world a better place. It’s a natural home for people who love the outdoors and are passionate about the environment. And it’s a place that values diversity—of resources, people, ideas and experiences.
Wish You Were Here
Planning a visit to campus? It’s the perfect opportunity to see firsthand all that Whitman and Walla Walla have to offer. Don’t miss our top tips on planning your visit.
Walla Walla is a special place to call home. I love the vibrant art and music community and friendly, hometown vibes—and the beautiful surroundings become your backyard. It’s a place where you can truly savor life’s simple pleasures and find inspiration in every season (without city traffic!).”
Work At WhitmanDiscover Walla Walla
Whitman students, faculty and staff come from all over the world to be part of one the top colleges in Washington. Here are a few reasons they choose call it home:
Outdoors
Whitman’s Outdoor Program runs student trips most weekends throughout the school year—and rents equipment like tents, kayaks, skis and bikes to help anyone access the outdoors. Students, faculty and staff get special rates on equipment rentals, and every student automatically receives funds to help pay for trips and equipment.
Downtown
Whitman’s central location is just steps from Walla Walla’s charming downtown. Drop by for coffee and conversation, browse the independent bookstores and fun shops, take in live music, or wander the Saturday farmers market.
Music
Whatever your jam, you’ll find live music around every corner in Walla Walla. Hear local bands perform downtown or in the vineyards. Soak up the classical beauty of the Walla Walla Symphony at Cordiner Hall. Or celebrate fun music events like the annual Guitar Festival or the Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival.
Food
From gourmet restaurants featuring locally sourced ingredients to fast and friendly food trucks, Walla Walla’s food scene will hit the spot. And the bustling breweries and beautiful vineyards have made Walla Walla a flourishing tourist destination, often voted one of the best wine towns in America.
Arts
Walla Walla is an art lover’s dream. You can stroll through Walla Walla’s downtown galleries and tasting rooms for First Friday Art Tours, enjoy ArtWalla’s Artist Pop-Ups or visit the world-renowned Walla Walla Foundry. If performance is more your thing, you can take in dance, comedy, film, drama, music and more at local venues like the Gesa Power House Theatre.
Connections
Whitman’s Community Fellow Program and the Career and Community Engagement Center help connect students with local nonprofit or public organizations for mentoring, consulting and internships. And Whitman faculty often collaborate with Walla Walla’s other institutions of higher education, local nonprofit and arts organizations, the state penitentiary, and tribal governments for unique teaching and learning opportunities.
Volunteering
Whitman’s Community Engagement Programs connect students with rewarding opportunities like Adopt-A-Grandparent, the Food Justice Project and the Walla Walla Stream Team. And communitywide service events like the Tri-College Community Day get everyone involved in making Walla Walla an amazing place to live.
History
Walla Walla’s fascinating past can be seen everywhere—from the historic architecture downtown to the array of nearby museums and historic sites, like the Fort Walla Walla Museum, Frenchtown Historic Site, and Tamástslikt Cultural Institute. And Whitman’s close ties with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation bring rich collaboration and learning opportunities about the area’s past and present to campus.
Inclusivity
Walla Walla is a place that values originality—one-of-kind experiences and one-of-a-kind people. On campus or around town, you’ll find a friendly, supportive atmosphere that allows you to pursue your passions, express yourself fully and experience a genuine sense of belonging.
Our Place in Walla Walla
Whitman College is located in the Walla Walla Valley, rich with people, places and events that make it a unique place to live and learn. Explore Whitman's many connections to the surrounding community in a periodic column that dives deeper into various topics, from flagstone annual events to influential community leaders.
Read “Our Place in Walla Walla”Stories
