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Our Community

The Perfect College Town

We Love Living in Walla Walla

Big skies. Blue mountains. Friendly faces. Fun around every corner. Living in a cozy college town is an adventure. Whitman students, faculty and staff enjoy Walla Walla for its easy access to the outdoors, its welcoming and big-hearted personality, and its vibrant local culture. Take a closer look at the home of one of the best liberal arts colleges in the Northwest.

Walla Walla Is a Perfect Place to

Get Involved

Walla Walla has endless opportunities to break out of the campus bubble—and Whitman’s ties to the community run deep. You’ll see Whitman faces volunteering in public schools, consulting with local nonprofits, leading local climate activism, performing with arts organizations and much more. Your talents and voice will be valued here.

Get Outside

Walla Walla is rich with parks, hiking and biking trails, lakes and streams, and wildlife preserves. Plus campus is just a short drive away from the beautiful Blue Mountains, Bluewood Ski Resort, the Columbia and Snake rivers, and breathtaking Palouse Falls. Into kayaking? Climbing? Snowboarding? Stargazing? Get ready to soak up all nature has to offer here.

Get a Northwest Experience

There’s something special about the Pacific Northwest. It’s filled with friendly, earnest people who genuinely care about making the world a better place. It’s a natural home for people who love the outdoors and are passionate about the environment. And it’s a place that values diversity—of resources, people, ideas and experiences.

Wish You Were Here

Planning a visit to campus? It’s the perfect opportunity to see firsthand all that Whitman and Walla Walla have to offer. Don’t miss our top tips on planning your visit.

Memorial Building clocktower

Walla Walla is a special place to call home. I love the vibrant art and music community and friendly, hometown vibes—and the beautiful surroundings become your backyard. It’s a place where you can truly savor life’s simple pleasures and find inspiration in every season (without city traffic!).”

Ryan B., Creative Strategy & Operations

Discover Walla Walla

Whitman students, faculty and staff come from all over the world to be part of one the top colleges in Washington. Here are a few reasons they choose call it home:

Outdoors

Whitman’s Outdoor Program runs student trips most weekends throughout the school year—and rents equipment like tents, kayaks, skis and bikes to help anyone access the outdoors. Students, faculty and staff get special rates on equipment rentals, and every student automatically receives funds to help pay for trips and equipment.

Downtown

Whitman’s central location is just steps from Walla Walla’s . Drop by for coffee and conversation, browse the independent bookstores and fun shops, take in live music, or wander the Saturday farmers market.

Music

Whatever your jam, you’ll find live music around every corner in Walla Walla. Hear local bands perform downtown or in the vineyards. Soak up the classical beauty of the at Cordiner Hall. Or celebrate fun music events like the annual Guitar Festival or the .

Food

From gourmet restaurants featuring locally sourced ingredients to fast and friendly food trucks, Walla Walla’s food scene will hit the spot. And the bustling breweries and beautiful vineyards have made Walla Walla a flourishing tourist destination, often voted one of the best wine towns in America.

Arts

Walla Walla is an art lover’s dream. You can stroll through Walla Walla’s downtown galleries and tasting rooms for , enjoy ArtWalla’s Artist Pop-Ups or visit the world-renowned . If performance is more your thing, you can take in dance, comedy, film, drama, music and more at local venues like the .

Connections

Whitman’s Community Fellow Program and the Career and Community Engagement Center help connect students with local nonprofit or public organizations for mentoring, consulting and internships. And Whitman faculty often collaborate with Walla Walla’s other institutions of higher education, local nonprofit and arts organizations, the state penitentiary, and tribal governments for unique teaching and learning opportunities.

Volunteering

Whitman’s Community Engagement Programs connect students with rewarding opportunities like Adopt-A-Grandparent, the Food Justice Project and the Walla Walla Stream Team. And communitywide service events like the Tri-College Community Day get everyone involved in making Walla Walla an amazing place to live.

History

Walla Walla’s fascinating past can be seen everywhere—from the historic architecture downtown to the array of nearby museums and historic sites, like the , , and . And Whitman’s close ties with the bring rich collaboration and learning opportunities about the area’s past and present to campus.

Inclusivity

Walla Walla is a place that values originality—one-of-kind experiences and one-of-a-kind people. On campus or around town, you’ll find a friendly, supportive atmosphere that allows you to pursue your passions, express yourself fully and experience a genuine sense of belonging.

Drone image of Walla Walla with Թ and Ankeny Field visible in the center.

Our Place in Walla Walla

Թ is located in the Walla Walla Valley, rich with people, places and events that make it a unique place to live and learn. Explore Whitman's many connections to the surrounding community in a periodic column that dives deeper into various topics, from flagstone annual events to influential community leaders.

Read Our Place in Walla Walla

Stories

From left: Nancy Mitchell, Riley Cooper, Pat Keef, Ella Shigo and Jackson Garrison smile with arms around each other at the Baker Ferguson Fitness Center

Linked for Life: How Three Whitman Students Saved a Beloved Professor

When Professor Emeritus Pat Keef collapsed at Whitman College fitness center, three students sprang into action. Their quick response and CPR training saved his life. Now, they are advocating for accessible medical training on campus to ensure that others are ready to respond when every second matters.
March 31, 2026

Collage of Seattle landmarks and Whitman students (from left): Pike Place Market, Ellie White, Museum of Pop Culture, Larissa Pforte

Թ Launches Summer in Seattle Program

Whitman new Summer in Seattle program will enhance students Seattle internships with a host of immersive learning opportunities like workshops, speakers, networking events, grad school visits and more. Applications are now open!
March 31, 2026

Marika Cartier stands in front of the Hall of Science

Charting a Path to Med School & Beyond at Whitman

Թ surrounds pre-med and pre-health students like Marika Cartier 26 with a supportive system of personalized advising, immersive learning opportunities and peer support as they prepare to launch their health care careers.
March 27, 2026

Take The Next Step

Our Admission team is excited to show prospective students all the opportunities that await them at Whitman—including top academics, career coaching and a caring community that truly wants them to thrive.

Not ready yet? Contact us to .