WALLA WALLA — The next “Museum After Hours” event at Fort Walla Walla Museum will feature a presentation by four editors who collaborated on the book “Tell It To Me Again: Sharing Athena’s Scottish History.”

The talk is Thursday, Jan. 25, 4-5 p.m. at the museum, 755 NE Myra Road. Admission is free.

The editors are Sue Friese, Kayla Durfee, Debbie Patton and Michelle Kirby. The book was printed by Magic Dog Press in Milton-Freewater.

Friese made sure to note that the date of this presentation, Jan. 25, is the birthday of Scotland’s celebrated poet Robert Burns, who lived from 1759 to 1796.

Scottish history

Friese said agriculture, especially wheat farming, attracted the Scots to Athena.

“Once a Scottish family settles, more Scots come,” she said.

The Scots founded a Caledonian Society, and the first Umatilla County Caledonian Society Picnic and Games was held in 1899 with George Cameron, a Portland lawyer, giving the principal address.

The games stopped with World War I and didn’t resume again until the country’s bicentennial in 1976.

And it’s been held every year since, except for 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the second book about Athena. The first was a historical review of the games, along with the area’s history.

The new book focuses on local families.

“We wanted to know these people better than just a list of names. We have clan stories in this book. It’s wonderful,” Friese said. “Their stories had to be kept. Caledonian’s mission has to be to preserve history.”

The games

The Athena Caledonian Games are held on the second weekend in July and attract hundreds of Scottish descendants from all around the Northwest for games, dance and music competitions.

Learn more at athenacaledonian.org.

The museum

The Fort Walla Walla Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular admission is $10 adults, $9 seniors and students, $5 for ages 6-12, and free for 5 and younger. For information, call 509-525-7703 or visit fwwm.org.