In mid-October 1805, Lewis and Clark's expedition first laid eyes on a huge water gap in the cliff formations just south of the meeting point of the Columbia and Walla Walla Rivers. Located by small town Wallula, Washington, river waters carved out the massive fold over millions of years.

Researchers believe that a flood caused by the combination of the Salmon, Snake, and Columbia Rivers around the 14th millennium B.C. substantially increased the width of Wallula Gap. The Walla Walla Tribe roamed the area on and around Wallula Gap. The Walla Walla Indians were a hunter/gatherer community who assigned duties to tribe members based on talents and personal strengths, and largely led a peaceful existence. Due to their traditional way of living, they were a nomadic people.

At their first meeting on October 18, 1805, the Walla Walla Indians under the guidance of their Lead Chief, Yelleppit, graciously welcomed the members of the Corps of Discovery and held council with Lewis and Clark. Yelleppit made the expedition members honorary "second chiefs" of the tribe and was eager to establish trade opportunities with the white settlers. The explorers were not able to stay long, but the chieftain made the captains promise to visit again on their return trip, which they did in April of 1806.

Unfortunately, the Walla Walla People's traditional way of life was largely lost with their participation in the Nez Perce Treaty of 1855 that ceded six million acres of land, including that around Wallula Gap, to the United States government and relocated the native peoples to a reservation in northeastern Oregon.

Researched, written, and narrated by University of West Florida Public History Student Travis Patterson