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Indian Shaker Church and Gulick Homestead facts for kids

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Indian Shaker Church and
Gulick Homestead
Photograph of several weatherworn, dilapidated buildings
Gulick Homestead buildings in 2004
Locator map
Locator map
Location in The Dalles OR
Location The Dalles, Oregon, near the junction of Interstate 84 and U.S. Route 197
Area 2.12 acres (0.86 ha)
Built 1891–1897
Built by Henry Gulick, et al.
Architectural style Vernacular
NRHP reference No. 78003087
Added to NRHP April 4, 1978

The Indian Shaker Church and Gulick Homestead are a group of historic buildings in The Dalles, Oregon, Oregon, United States. They were built by Henry Gulick right on the Columbia River in the 1890s. This site is special because it is the only 19th-century fishing homestead still standing in Oregon.

Henry Gulick worked for a big local company that canned salmon. Around 1896, he built a church building as part of the complex. This church was for his wife, Harriet, who was a member of the Wasco people. It was one of the smallest of five Indian Shaker Church groups in Oregon at the time.

The church and homestead were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means they are recognized as important historical sites.

What is a Homestead?

A homestead was a piece of land given by the government to settlers. People had to live on the land and improve it, often by farming. The Gulick Homestead was unique because it focused on fishing. It was a place where a family lived and worked, catching and preparing fish from the Columbia River.

Life at the Homestead

Life at a fishing homestead in the 1890s was hard work. Families like the Gulicks relied on the river for their food and income. They would catch salmon, which was a very important resource in the Pacific Northwest. The fish would then be processed, often for canning, to be sold.

The Gulick Family and Their Home

Henry Gulick built this homestead between 1891 and 1897. He was an employee of the Seufert salmon canning company. This company was very important to the local economy in The Dalles. Henry's wife, Harriet, was a Native American woman from the Wasco people. Their homestead shows how different cultures lived and worked together in the region.

The Indian Shaker Church

The Indian Shaker Church is a unique Christian religion. It blends traditional Native American beliefs with Christian teachings. It started in the late 1800s among Native American communities in the Pacific Northwest.

Beliefs and Practices

Followers of the Indian Shaker Church believe in healing through prayer and spiritual shaking. This "shaking" is a physical movement that is part of their worship. The church built at the Gulick Homestead was a place for Harriet and other members to practice their faith. It was a small but important part of their community.

Why is This Place Important?

The Indian Shaker Church and Gulick Homestead is important for several reasons:

  • It is the only remaining 19th-century fishing homestead in Oregon. This makes it a rare example of how people lived and worked along the Columbia River.
  • It shows the connection between early settlers and Native American communities.
  • It highlights the history of the salmon canning industry, which was a huge business in Oregon.
  • It represents the spread of the Indian Shaker Church, an important Native American religious movement.

Becoming a Historic Site

In 1978, the homestead and church were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are considered important to history. Being on this list helps protect these sites so future generations can learn from them.

See also

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