Krupp, Washington: The Tiny Town That Survived Fire, War & Woodstock #KruppWashington #4k

 

 

Krupp, Washington — or is it Marlin? 

Hidden in the wheat country of Eastern Washington is one of the smallest incorporated towns in the state. Today there isn't much left of Krupp, but this tiny Grant County community has one of the strangest histories of any town I've visited. 

Krupp grew along the Great Northern Railway and became a thriving little agricultural community surrounded by wheat country. Then, in 1909, a devastating fire destroyed nearly the entire business district. 

The town rebuilt. 

 During World War I, residents decided that "Krupp" wasn't the best name for an American town. They began calling it Marlin — but somehow the name change was never made completely official. More than a century later, you'll still find both names here. 

Then came Sunrise '71.  

In 1971, promoters planned a massive three-day rock festival just outside this tiny farming community. As many as 50,000 concertgoers were expected. Local residents fought the festival, the courts stopped it, hundreds of law-enforcement officers converged on the area, and about a thousand young people arrived anyway. 

After roadblocks, arrests, confiscated food and even tear gas elsewhere in Grant County, Sunrise '71 became a legendary rock festival for one very unusual reason: 

There was never any rock music. 

Wilson Creek: https://youtu.be/Zbn-86Mj95Q 

Join me as we explore what remains of Krupp/Marlin, Washington, and discover the remarkable story of a little town that has proven surprisingly difficult to get rid of.  

If you enjoy exploring the forgotten towns, backroads and history of Eastern Washington, consider subscribing for more. 

#KruppWashington #MarlinWashington #WashingtonHistory 

Pomeroy, Washington: The Fire That Changed a Town #PomeroyWashington #WashingtonHistory #4k

 

 

On July 18, 1900, a spilled can of gasoline, a struck match and a strong west wind helped ignite a devastating fire in downtown Pomeroy, Washington. Nearly half of the business district was destroyed or damaged, including the Garfield County Courthouse. 

But the fire is only part of Pomeroy's story.  

In this episode of LookSeeTravel, we explore how a stage stop along Pataha Creek grew into the seat of Garfield County, how wheat transformed the surrounding countryside, and how Pomeroy competed with nearby Pataha City for dominance. 

The rivalry became so complicated that Congress eventually stepped in to establish Pomeroy as the county seat. Then the railroad arrived in 1886—and stopped at Pomeroy instead of continuing the few miles to Pataha. 

By 1946, Pomeroy was reportedly the largest grain-shipping point on the entire Union Pacific Railroad. 

We'll also look at the devastating fire of 1900, Pomeroy's remarkable rebuilding in brick, the historic Garfield County Courthouse, and the unusual Lady Justice watching over the town today.  

Join me as we explore the history and surviving streets of Pomeroy, Washington, and discover how a stage stop, wheat, a county-seat battle, a railroad and one terrible fire helped make Pomeroy what it is today. 

 If you enjoy exploring the small towns, forgotten places and local history of Washington State, please consider subscribing to LookSeeTravel. 

#PomeroyWashington #WashingtonHistory #LookSeeTravel #4K 

Warden, Washington: The Little Town That Water Changed #WardenWashington #EasternWashington #4K

 

Warden, Washington is a small agricultural town in Grant County, surrounded by the productive farmland of the Columbia Basin. But when settlers first arrived here in the early 1900s, this was dry sagebrush country where obtaining enough water was a constant problem. 

 In this LookSeeTravel visit, we explore how the Milwaukee Road helped create Warden, the story of Doc Harris and the origin of the town's name, and an unusual Wild West tale involving two armed men who arrived by boxcar and robbed the local saloon. But the biggest change in Warden's history came with Grand Coulee Dam and the Columbia Basin Project. 

Water transformed the surrounding countryside, allowing agriculture to expand across land that early settlers had struggled to farm. Warden's population nearly tripled between 1950 and 1960 as irrigation changed the economy of the region. 

Today, Warden remains a small agricultural community whose story reflects the much larger transformation of Washington's Columbia Basin. Come along as we take a look at Warden, Washington — a small town shaped by railroads, agriculture and water. 

 If you enjoy visiting the small towns, back roads and historic places of Eastern Washington, consider subscribing to LookSeeTravel. There are many more towns and stories ahead. 

#WardenWashington #EasternWashington #WashingtonHistory #ColumbiaBasin #SmallTownAmerica 

Govan Schoolhouse May Not Be Standing Much Longer | Govan, WA #GovanWashington #GovanSchoolhouse

 

The historic Govan Schoolhouse in Govan, Washington is rapidly deteriorating, and 2026 may be one of the last opportunities to see this Eastern Washington landmark in anything resembling its familiar form. 

0:00 Beginning 

2:55 2025 Footage of the School. 

In this video, I return to Govan and take a close look at the condition of the old schoolhouse, including how much it has changed since footage I recorded in July 2025. 

Weather and decades of neglect have taken their toll, but vandalism and the removal of materials have also contributed to the building's decline. The Govan Schoolhouse was built in 1905 and served local children until the school district was closed in 1942. The two-room school once had two teachers and educated children in grades one through eight. 

More than 80 years after the last students left, the deteriorating building remains Govan's most recognizable landmark. We'll also take a short look at the history of Govan itself. Established along the Central Washington Railway in 1889, Govan developed into a small agricultural and railroad community serving the surrounding farms of Lincoln County. The town once had stores, churches, a hotel, post office, saloon and other businesses. 

A major fire in 1927 destroyed much of Govan's business district, and the town was later bypassed by U.S. Highway 2. As transportation and agriculture changed, Govan gradually declined. Today, very little remains. Murder of Judge Jesse A. Lewis and his wife, Penelope Collier Lewis.   

   • Almira Axe Murders: The Chilling Unsolved ...   The Thennes Murder Mystery: 1903 Govan’s Unsolved Crime. 

    • Almira Axe Murders: The Chilling Unsolved ...   

Join me for a five-minute visit to the Govan Schoolhouse and what remains of Govan, Washington. If you enjoy the forgotten towns, buildings and history of Eastern Washington, please consider subscribing for more local history and travels through the region.  

#GovanWashington #GovanSchoolhouse #WashingtonGhostTowns