National Register of Historic Places

Kamiakin's Gardens

Union Gap, Yakima County, Washington
Listed
December 22, 1976
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
76001926

About this property

Kamiakin's Gardens was the first place to be irrigated in the Yakima River valley in central Washington state. Chief Kamiakin (1800–1877) was a leader of the Yakama Nation who sought to avoid conflict with European settlers and missionaries who started arriving in the region in the 1840s. Kamiakin directed that a ditch be excavated to nourish a plot near Ahtanum Creek, hoping to provide a sedentary existence for his people that would keep them out of conflict with the settlers. Crops included squash, corn and potatoes, fed by what became known to settlers as Kamiakin's Ditch. The irrigated area was about 1,300 feet (400 m) long, remnants of which remain visible and are still irrigated. In 1851 a Catholic mission was established near the creek. Kamiakin's initiative to avoid conflict with the settlers would prove fruitless, and Kamiakin eventually became a leader during the Yakima War of the 1850s. Kamiakin's Gardens were placed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 22, 1976.

Location

Union Gap, Yakima County, Washington
46.52951, -120.82603

Categories

AGRICULTUREEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Kamiakin's Gardens

This page lists Kamiakin's Gardens. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Kamiakin's Gardens report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

St. Joseph's Mission
Colonial
3.2 mi
Carbonneau Mansion
Industrial
12.8 mi
Fort Simcoe State Park
Early Republic
12.9 mi
Gleed, James, Barn
Industrial
13.9 mi
Perrin, Winfield, House
Industrial
13.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Kamiakin's Gardens listed on the National Register?

Kamiakin's Gardens was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 22, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Kamiakin's Gardens?

Kamiakin's Gardens is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Kamiakin's Gardens?

The period of significance for Kamiakin's Gardens is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Kamiakin's Gardens?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Kamiakin's Gardens will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Yakima County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Yakima County.

Explore YakimaCounty ›

More historic places in Washington

Browse all historic places in Washington.

View Washingtonhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Washington history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Washingtonhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Kamiakin's Gardens will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report