The Kirkman House has been a fixture in Walla Walla since 1880 and is a Victorian style mansion originally built by the Kirkman family. It currently operates as a museum showcasing Kirkman family items, items from the Victorian period, and rotating themed displays.
The Kirkman House is 6,000 square feet of intricate details and impressive design. An interesting feature of the Kirkman House is the floating staircase. This staircase is made without supports underneath. This was a feat of engineering design when it was created. The entire staircase was made-to-order for the Kirkman family on the eat coast and was shipped around South America and brought from the west coast to Walla Walla.
Another feature of the museum is the marble wall in the foyer. At the time the home was built having a wall that emulated marble but was not actually marble was considered very fashionable and cost far more than real marble. The Kirkman family hired an artist to paint the walls so that they looked like marble. The wall you can see today is a restoration of the original work done by an artist in Pendleton.
If you haven't been to the Kirkman House in a while consider going. The current rotating exhibit features the "little black dress" and its evolution through the ages. Take a walk down memory lane and appreciate dresses from the late 19th century through today in a variety of silhouettes, styles and fabrics along with the furnishings and memorabilia of the family.
The Kirkman House is located at 214 N. Colville St. in Walla Walla. For more information about the museum and upcoming events please visit http://www.kirkmanhousemuseum.org/.
