Enterprise in Wallowa County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Nez Perce

Oregon History

Photographed by Duane Hall, September 10, 2010

1. Nez Perce Marker

Inscription. Wallowa Valley, summer homeland of the Joseph Band Nez Perce, was part of the expansive Nez Perce Reservation established by the treaty of 1855. Upon discovery of gold in the region, the U.S. eliminated the reservation in the Wallowas in 1863. The Joseph Band held on until 1877 when, under pressure from increasing white settlement, they were ordered to abandon their ancestral homeland. Violent conflict ensued as the Joseph Band joined other Nez Perce and Palouse bands on a historic 1,170 mile retreat. After five months of elusive flight, with his people exhausted, freezing and heavily outnumbered, Joseph in dignified surrender proclaimed: “From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.” With promises made by the generals at their surrender broken, the Nez Perce were never allowed to return home though Chief Joseph pleaded their case until his death in 1904.

Erected by State of Oregon.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Oregon Beaver Boards series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1855.

Location. 45° 25.398′ N,

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117° 17.831′ W. Marker is in Enterprise, Oregon, in Wallowa County. It is on Wallowa Lake Highway (Oregon Route 82) 0.1 miles east of Highland Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Enterprise OR 97828, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Oregon.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 19 Dr. J.W. Barnard Drugs 08 (approx. 5.9 miles away); Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site (approx. 6.6 miles away); Putting Down Roots (approx. 6.6 miles away); Salmon for Trade (approx. 6.6 miles away); "Only the sounds of the horses..." (approx. 6.6 miles away); tiwi∙teqis (Old Chief Joseph) (approx. 7 miles away); Chief "Old" Joseph (approx. 7 miles away); Wallowa Lake (approx. 7.1 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Benson Bubbler

2. Nez Perce Marker

View to southeast from State Route 82

(was approx. 0.9 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Nez Perce War - Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on February 14, 2014.)

Wallowa Valley image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane Hall, September 10, 2010

3. Wallowa Valley

View to south from State Route 82 east of Enterprise

<i>Chief Joseph, Nez Percé</i> image. Click for full size.

De Lancey Gill (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress), 1900

4. Chief Joseph, Nez Percé

Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 14, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 859 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 14, 2014, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. 4. submitted on February 11, 2018.