Ephrata in Grant County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Early Days in Ephrata
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, May 21, 2026
1. Early Days in Ephrata Marker
Ephrata was a summer Indian camp. Hundreds of Indians spent weeks gathering roots at the springs west of here. Ephrata was the gateway between Walla Walla & Okanogan. Indians, military expeditions, and wagons traveled here in 1880. The first settlers (Eddens) built a 7 x 16 log cabin behind the present courthouse. The railroad came in 1892. The last roundup of 5,000 horses was in 1909. This courthouse was built in 1917.
Erected by Grant County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 47° 19.327′ N, 119° 33.174′ W. Marker is in Ephrata, Washington, in Grant County. It is on 1st Avenue Northwest west of C Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located beside the sidewalk near the northeast corner of the Grant County Courthouse grounds, adjacent to the parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 35 C Street Northwest, Ephrata WA 98823, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Columbia Basin. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: South East Asian War Memorial
this page online
More about this marker. This is a tall wooden "billboard-style" marker, constructed of painted wooden slats and hanging from a heavy-duty wooden frame.
Regarding Early Days in Ephrata. Grant County Courthouse, 1917, National Register of Historic Places #75001850 (1975)
Also see . . .
1. Ephrata History. History Link entry:
This dryland country was one of the last regions in the state to attract white settlement. For decades, roaming herds of wild horses outnumbered the human population. Yet beginning around 1880, the springs began to draw a few white ranchers. Among the first were Tom and Bill Eddens who built a small cabin near the springs around 1880. Other horsemen and cattlemen started ranches around the area. (Submitted on January 24, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Grant County Courthouse,(Washington). Wikipedia entry:
Construction of the Grant County Courthouse began late July 1917 with the purchase of two city blocks in downtown Ephrata. With plans laid out by architect
Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, May 21, 2026
2. Early Days in Ephrata Marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2016
3. Early Days in Ephrata Marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2016
4. Early Days in Ephrata Marker (wide view; Grant County Courthouse & parking lot in background)
Photographed by Larry Gertner
5. Grant County Courthouse
NPGallery Digital Asset Management System website entry
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2016
6. Grant County Courthouse (wide view from C Street Northwest, near marker)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 830 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 22, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. 3, 4. submitted on January 24, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 5. submitted on November 27, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 6. submitted on January 24, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
