Welcome to

Toppenish

Known as the city “Where the West Still Lives,” Toppenish has maintained much of its old-century charm while keeping up with the present.

About the Community

The town of about 9,000 people has seen a growing number of new businesses and restaurants arrive over the past few years, and is also home to the Yakama Nation.

The city’s name is derived from the Indian word “Xuupinish,” which means sloping and spreading. Toppenish combines a Wild West theme with Native American and Hispanic cultural influences that led American Cowboy Magazine to name it one of the 20 Best Places to Live in the West.

Whether you’re planning a day trip or a more extended stay, there are plenty of activities, including touring the historic downtown, viewing the murals, visiting the Northern Pacific Railway Museum, American Hops Museum or the Yakama Nation’s Cultural Center Campus off Highway 97.

The center includes the Yakama Nation Museum (one of the oldest Native American museums in the U.S.), Cultural Center Gift Shop, Heritage Inn Restaurant, Heritage Theater, Yakama Nation Library and the iconic Winter Lodge, as well as a consistently great view of Mount Adams.

The murals are what truly sets the town apart, with 81 covering the sides of buildings throughout the city, depicting scenes from the Valley’s history. You can get a map at the visitor center and tour the murals at your own leisure. A map of the city and a key to where the murals are located can be found in this year’s Visitor Guide. The number of each mural coincides with numbers on the locator map.

Community celebrations and special events abound year-round, such as the Toppenish Rodeo on Fourth of July weekend, Lighted Christmas Parade in late November or the Toy Train Christmas in December.

The Toppenish Visitor Information Center offers mural souvenirs, postcards and full-color books featuring the murals. It’s also adjacent to Washington state’s tallest flag pole.