Toppenish in Yakima County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

At the Peak of the Harvest

At the Peak of Harvest Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 14, 2015

1. At the Peak of Harvest Marker

Inscription. In the years gone by the entire potato crop was picked from the field by hand. It was backbreaking work and took strong men and women to do the job. Potatoes were one of the first crops to be raised in this valley when it was settled.

Fred Oldfield, artist from Federal Way, Washington painted this Mural.
Toppenish Mural Society 1991

Erected 1991 by Toppenish Mural Society. (Marker Number 12.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 46° 22.585′ N, 120° 18.601′ W. Marker is in Toppenish, Washington, in Yakima County. Marker is at the intersection of South Toppenish Avenue and South Division Street, on the left when traveling north on South Toppenish Avenue. Marker is a framed, painted metal plaque, mounted at eye-level at the southeast corner of the building at this address. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 South Toppenish Avenue, Toppenish WA 98948, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Newell's Drive (a few steps from this marker); Indians Winter Encampment (within shouting distance of this marker); Indian Horse Races (within shouting distance of this marker);

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Lou Shattuck (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Blacksmith Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); "Clearing the Land" (within shouting distance of this marker); Crossroads to Market (within shouting distance of this marker); When Hops Were Picked by Hand (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toppenish.

More about this marker. The entire east second-story front facade of the building at this address is covered by a giant mural depicting the potato harvest, as described by the marker.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Historical Murals of Toppenish, Washington

Also see . . .
1. Toppenish: An Agricultural Center. By 1910, Toppenish had grown to 1,598 people, as farmers and ranchers leased or bought the irrigated farmland around it. Toppenish was soon shipping out freight cars full of hops, fruit, potatoes, and livestock. (Submitted on February 10, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Toppenish Mural Guide.

At the Peak of Harvest Mural (<i>marker is mounted on side of building, at far left</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 14, 2015

2. At the Peak of Harvest Mural (marker is mounted on side of building, at far left)

In 1989, the Toppenish Mural Society embarked on an ambitious plan to cover the town with murals depicting historical scenes. Each mural had to depict a Toppenish-area event from 1850 to 1920 and each had to be done by accomplished, professional Western artists. (Submitted on February 10, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

1919 John Deere Potato Planter<br>(<i>on display across Toppenish Avenue from marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 14, 2015

3. 1919 John Deere Potato Planter
(on display across Toppenish Avenue from marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 187 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 10, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.