Kirkman House Museum

The Kirkman House Museum celebrates over 150 years of Walla Walla history and the Kirkman family saga through preservation, education, events, and exhibits.

This 1881 Italianate mansion was built by William Kirkman, who arrived in America from England in 1850 to sell British textiles but was drawn west by the Gold Rush, eventually building cattle and supply ventures across California and the Pacific Northwest. After settling in Walla Walla in 1872, William and his wife Isabella hired architect F. P. Freeman to design the house, which served as the Kirkman family’s residence for nearly 40 years.

In 1974, Historic Architecture Development (HAD), a local preservation organization, helped list the house on the National Register of Historic Places. Three years later, HAD purchased it, launching a 50-year mission — with community support — to restore the mansion to its former Victorian elegance.

The museum centers on authentically furnished Victorian parlors, bedrooms, and a grand dining room, appointed with period-appropriate 19th-century pieces. Exhibits highlight fashion, family life, and community milestones, while rotating displays — such as 1910s–1920s women’s fashion or vintage wedding gowns — expand into broader social history, staying anchored in the late-19th and early-20th centuries.

The museum also houses a room featuring memorabilia related to Walla Walla native Adam West and his “Batman” career, adding a playful pop-culture dimension to the collection.