The Long Way
Umatilla County
A historic black and white photograph showing a man operating a large textile machine in a factory.
Plate I. Historic interior view, Pendleton Mill. From pendleton-usa.com
A man in overalls stands by textile machinery in a factory.
Plate II. Historic interior, Pendleton Mill. From pendleton-usa.com

Pendleton Mill

Pendleton, Umatilla County, Oregon. Woolen mill.

Details

Map. Pendleton, Umatilla County, Oregon. Larger map
Where
1307 SE Court Place, Pendleton, OR 97801. Directions
When
Tours are offered at the Pendleton Mill Monday through Friday at 11a.m. and 3p.m.
Hours
Monday-Friday.
Access
Tour request required; the operator's own mill-tours page lists a 'Request a Tour' form rather than a public schedule.
Walk-in or reserve
Request a Tour.
Phone
800-568-3156
Website
pendleton-usa.com
Managed by
Pendleton Woolen Mills.
Established
1909.

The original Pendleton Woolen Mills plant in Pendleton, Oregon, weaving jacquard-patterned blankets and wool fabrics since 1909.

Notable Events

  1. 1876Thomas Lister Kay's daughter Fannie Kay married retailer C. P. Bishop, creating the foundation for present-day Pendleton Woolen Mills. pendleton-usa.com
  2. 1896The wool-scouring mill financed by Pendleton businessmen opened. oregonencyclopedia.org
  3. 1907The plant closed because of the financial panic of 1907. oregonencyclopedia.org
  4. 1910The Bishop family helped launch the Pendleton Round-Up, with Roy and Chauncey Bishop serving as directors. oregonencyclopedia.org
  5. 1916The company introduced its Glacier National Park Blanket, first in a series celebrating the National Park Service. pendleton-usa.com
  6. 1920sThe Bishops expanded the product line to include fine woolen apparel for men. oregonencyclopedia.org
  7. 1924The company introduced colorful wool shirts for men as an alternative to drab work shirts. pendleton-usa.com
  8. 1949The company introduced its first women's collection, featuring The '49er Jacket. pendleton-usa.com
  9. 1989The Pendleton Woolen Mills Archives was established in consultation with the Winthrop Group. www2.archivists.org
  10. 2009Pendleton Woolen Mills marked its 100th anniversary by announcing the Spirit of the Family contest. eastoregonian.com

People

  • Joe Rawnsley, Jacquard loom operator who developed Native color and design preferences into blankets (1901).
  • Thomas Lister Kay, Founder and English master weaver who established himself in Oregon's woolen industry (1863).

Sources

  1. pendleton-usa.com/help-center/about-us/mill-tours.html
  2. visiteasternoregon.com/poi/pendleton-woolen-mills
  3. traveloregon.com/things-to-do/oregon-attractions/shopping/pendleton-woolen-mills
  4. woolenmill.store/2022/08/04/pendleton-mill-tours-are-back
  5. travelpendleton.com/explore
  6. sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/government/pages/umatilla.aspx
  7. facebook.com/PendletonWoolenMills
  8. pendleton-usa.com/our-story
  9. pendleton-usa.com/our-story/heritage/american-mills
  10. oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/pendleton_woolen_mills
  11. www2.archivists.org/groups/business-archives-section/repository-spotlight-pendleton-woolen-mills-archives
  12. eastoregonian.com/2009/02/05/pendleton-woolen-mills-weaves-family-history