Closer pelican view

Yakima Valley's Pelicans

I can't believe I forgot to show you Yakima Valley's White Pelicans on this blog. They make the Yakima River their home from about march to September or October.

Advertising Mural

Most of the paintings in the mural city of Toppenish are historical scenes and personages. This is one of the exceptions. Though I imagine the costume is historically accurate for some period in the town's history, it makes me wonder the profession of the model.

Winter Lodge

Traditional architecture and design in non-traditional materials, the Winter Lodge of the Yakama Nation Cultural Center is available for meetings and gatherings.

Teepee camping

Last week oru kids camped in yurts at Sequest State PArk, but just up the road from us in Toppenish you can camp in teepees at the Yakama Nation.

Yakima Valley's Pelicans

I had a lucky day driving on I-82 along the Yakima River one day last week. My timing was just right to catch a good shot of some of the American White Pelicans who make the river their home from about Mrch through October each year. When I was commuting early in the morning daily, I rarely saw them, as they are usually in flight later in the morning.

It's Flag Day.

I snapped this shot of the huge flag in Toppenish last July when the corn was high.

Casino

Tuesday is Senior Citizens' Day at the Legends Casino. The shuttle makes stops at senior housing areas.

Heritage University

The Heritage University Library. Clicking on the photo will give you a better view of the statue. I should go back some time to focus just on it. There were only remnants of a library when we attended.
Research was difficult--and it was before computer resources were available.

Heritage

When my husband and I both took classes at Heritage in the late 80s--he for his Masters and my for my Teaching Certification--it was a College, and this old elementary school building (It didn't have a spiffy new green roof then.) and a couple of portables was all there was to the campus. It is now Heritage University, and serves the diverse Yakima Valley population well, as well as programs extended throughout the state.

On the route home #2

On the way home we also pass this collection that I call the "Graveyard of Rusted Automobiles." What classic might emerge if someone chose one to restore? I always want to get a chance to wander

through for a closer look.

The route home #1

On the way back to the Valley from Maryhill, we could have stopped at the Toppenish Wildlife Refuge, where on one visit we saw this Long-Eared Owl. (This will enlarge if you click it.)

Haunted!

Scene from the Toppenish Railroad Historical Society Haunted Train.

Tonight is the last night--6-9 p.m.--at the Toppenish Depot.

Be Scared!

Old Hop Press

When I took this photo a couple of months ago, I had no idea what the mechanism was behind the memorial to the "Hands of Harvest" in Old Timers' Square in Toppenish. I have since learned that it is an early hop press. The dried hops were placed in the press which was lined with burlap. Horses then circled the press turning a screw which compacted the hops into bales in the burlap bags. They would be compressed to much less bulk than they would be without the pressing. Hop bales are huge, even after being compressed.

Harking back

The Toppenish Murals harken back to a bygone day, but so does this earlier bit of advertising ont he wall of the old Liberty Theater building.

Western Heritage

Anoterh whimsical reminder of Toppenish's western heritage is this horse in front of City Hall.

Here's Looking at You

Of all the outstanding murals in Toppenish, I think my favorite sight there is this whimsical treatment of the windows in this building on the main street through town.

Flag over Corn

The largest flag in the state of Washington flies over Toppenish and can be seen beyond this corn field.

Mural City

Toppenish is a city of murals. Since the first of these professionally done images was done in 1989, more than seventy have appeared on the walls of the town. The project celebrates the city's history and heritage with images of Native Americans, pioneers, cowboys, agriculture, everyday life, the coming of the railroad, and many other significant people and events.

Did you notice the mountain? You can't get away from it in the Yakima Valley. I took a few other shots when I did this one, and I will return to take you on a better tour at a later date.