Pullman area
Around Pullman area
Photo: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Greater area · Washington · 90k people
Pullman area
Locals say Palouse · “Cougar Town”
Rolling hills, crimson pride, and a taste of home.
Washington State University crimsonWashington State University grayGolden wheat
Welcome to the Palouse – where the wheat fields roll like ocean waves and the Cougar spirit runs deep. Whether you're here for a game or a quiet drive through the hills, you'll find a friendly, down-to-earth community. Grab a slice of Cougar Gold and enjoy the view.
Clubs for Pullman area
No clubs for Pullman area yet.
The room
Pullman area is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Pullman's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Pullman. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Pullman area. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Washington State University campus Home of the Cougars, with historic brick buildings and the WSU Creamery.
- Martin Stadium WSU Cougars football stadium, known for the 'Cougar flag' tradition.
- Beasley Coliseum WSU basketball arena and concert venue.
- WSU Creamery Where Cougar Gold cheese has been made since the 1940s.
- Steptoe Butte State Park A quartzite tower with panoramic views of the Palouse patchwork.
- Kamiak Butte County Park Wooded butte with hiking trails and sweeping views of wheat fields.
- Outdoors Hike Kamiak Butte
- Outdoors Drive the Palouse Scenic Byway
- With kids Tour the WSU Creamery
- With kids Palouse Discovery Science Center
- Evenings Cougar football watch parties
- Evenings Brewpub hopping
- Locals love Coffee shops
- Locals love Brewpubs
Through the year
- National Lentil Festival August Celebrates the Palouse's lentil harvest with food, music, and a parade.
- Whitman County Fair August Classic county fair with livestock, exhibits, and carnival rides in Colfax.
- Palouse Days Summer Small-town celebration in Palouse with a parade, crafts, and community gathering.
- WSU Cougar Football Season Fall Fall Saturdays at Martin Stadium with the Cougars and the famous flag tradition.
- Pullman Farmers Market May–October Weekly market with local produce, crafts, and live music.
Semi-arid with cold winters and warm, dry summers. The best time to be outside is late spring to early fall, when the Palouse hills are green or golden. Best: Late spring and early summer, when the wheat is green and the hills roll like waves.
Talk like a local
- “Cougs”
- Washington State University students, alumni, and fans.
- “The Palouse”
- The rolling wheat-covered hills that define the region.
- “Butte”
- A butte, especially Steptoe or Kamiak – locals say 'the butte'.
- “Wheat country”
- The agricultural heartland where wheat is king.
Getaways
- Moscow, ID College town with a vibrant downtown and University of Idaho campus.
- Lewiston, ID Confluence of the Clearwater and Snake rivers, with jet boat tours.
- Spokane, WA Largest city nearby – Riverfront Park, museums, and shopping.
- Coeur d'Alene, ID Lake resort town with beaches, trails, and the famous floating boardwalk.
Local flavour
Teams
- Washington State Cougars NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- Cougar Gold cheese Award-winning cheese made by WSU creamery
- Palouse lentils The region is a top lentil producer
- Huckleberry Wild berry common in the region
Where people go
- Wheat fields and rolling hills The Palouse landscape
- Washington State University campus Historic and central to the community
- Small-town main streets Typical of the region's communities
Heritage and traditions
The Palouse is proud of its sweeping wheat fields, its land-grant university (WSU), and the tight-knit farming communities that have shaped its character.
This time of year in Pullman area
- WSU Cougar football season Fall Autumn Saturdays filled with tailgating and crimson and gray.
- Dad's Weekend October Fall counterpart to Mom's Weekend, with football and family activities.
Say it like a local: “The Palouse” — The region itself
Festivals
- Pullman ArtWalk June–August Monthly summer event showcasing local artists and musicians in downtown Pullman.
- WSU Mom's Weekend April A spring tradition where families visit campus for events, concerts, and celebrations.
- Dad's Weekend October Fall counterpart to Mom's Weekend, with football and family activities.
- Pullman Christmas in the Park December Holiday lights and community gathering in a local park.
Landmarks with a story
- Whitman County Courthouse A grand 1890s courthouse in Colfax, a symbol of local government and history.
- Steptoe Battlefield State Park Site of the 1858 conflict between U.S. troops and Native American tribes.
- Pullman Depot A restored railroad station that once connected the Palouse to the outside world.
Food traditions
- Fresh wheat bread from local mills The Palouse grows some of the world's best wheat, and locals bake with it.
- Lentil salads and soups The region is a top lentil producer; these dishes are a staple.
- Huckleberry pancakes Wild huckleberries are picked in nearby mountains and turned into breakfast treats.
- Cougar Gold cheese on crackers A sharp cheddar made at WSU since the 1940s, a local favorite.
- Harvest potlucks during wheat season Neighbors gather to share meals after long days in the fields.
Music and arts
- WSU School of Music and concerts University performances from classical to jazz.
- Pullman Civic Theatre Community theater productions year-round.
- Palouse Plein Air Outdoor painting events capturing the landscape.
- Folk music at local coffeehouses Acoustic sessions in intimate venues.
A little history
- 1858 Battle of Steptoe Butte
- 1880s Founding of Pullman, named after George Pullman
- 1890 Washington Agricultural College (now WSU) established
- Early 1900s Wheat boom transforms the Palouse into a grain powerhouse
- 1960s WSU becomes a full university
Rivalries
- WSU Cougars vs. Idaho Vandals The Battle of the Palouse – a friendly cross-state rivalry.
- WSU Cougars vs. Washington Huskies The Apple Cup – the state's biggest football rivalry.
- Pullman vs. Moscow Friendly banter between the two college towns, especially on game days.
- Game day WSU Cougar football tailgating
- Game day The Cougar Marching Band
- Outdoors Biking the Palouse hills
- Outdoors Horseback riding
- With kids Visiting the WSU dairy
- With kids Feeding ducks at Reaney Park
Locals speak with a general American accent but have a few distinctive terms. 'Palouse' is pronounced puh-LOOSE, and 'Coug' is short for Cougar. You'll hear agricultural and university references in everyday talk.
Only here
- The rolling hills of the Palouse, formed by wind-blown silt, are unlike anywhere else.
- Cougar Gold cheese is made only at WSU, using a secret recipe since 1940.
- The National Lentil Festival celebrates the region's lentil harvest every August.
- Steptoe Butte offers a 360-degree view of the patchwork fields.
New here? A few tips
- Prepare for cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers—layers are key.
- Pronounce 'Palouse' as puh-LOOSE, not puh-LOOS.
- Try Cougar Gold cheese from the WSU Creamery; it's a local icon.
- Support local farms by shopping at the Pullman Farmers Market.
- Attend a WSU football game to experience Cougar pride and tailgating.
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Areas in Pullman area
Nearby
Every areaLewistonIdahoWhere the rivers meet and the hills rollKellogg–St. MariesIdahoWhere the pines meet the rivers and history runs deep.Dayton–PomeroyWashingtonRolling wheat hills and quiet main streets.SpokaneWashingtonRiver city, mountain soul.Coeur d'AleneIdahoBlue water, big skies, and mountain calm.Walla WallaWashingtonWhere sweet onions and fine wine meet the wide open sky.OthelloWashingtonWhere the desert meets the harvest.Tri-CitiesWashingtonWhere the desert blooms with wine and sunshine.
Pullman-Moscow, WA-ID CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.