There is a legend about Joseph, Oregon that is almost unbelievable. It seems that on October 1, 1896 Dave Tucker, a bank robber, was hit by a bullet while he and two others robbed a bank in Joseph. He was captured and served time in jail. After spending time in prison, Dave Tucker returned to Joseph and started a career as a sheep herder. After a while he was considered rehabilitated by the community. And proving the code of the Old West, a good man could eventually overcome a bad past, he was made vice president of the very bank he had stolen from. The Old West was a forgiving time! Chief Joseph, for whom the town is named was the leader of a band of Nez Perce Native Americans during the 19th century. He and his people summered in the Wallowa Valley nearby to what is now Joseph. Joseph is a small town right by the Wallowa Mountains found in the northeast corner of Oregon Joseph is at an elevation of nearly 4,200 feet. People coming to Joseph for the first time are surprised that it does not have high desert conditions. Instead, they are amazed to find a deep blue lake, clean rivers and a sky filled with snow capped mountain peaks rising from the valley to as high as 9,000 feet The two industries that fed Josephs economy were timber and ranching, but in the late 1970s and early 1980s the influence of these two industries were in a decline. In response or perhaps desperation a local businessman opened a foundry for artists to cast sculptures in bronze. The idea took off and artists from all over the world came to Joseph to sculpt. In turn, they attracted other artists of all kinds to the town. Now Joseph is the home of two working foundries and 12 galleries that showcase traditional instead of contemporary art Main street reminds folks of the towns old west heritage, there are local cafes, an old-fashioned hardware store and a lumberyard that mingle with the storefronts that now house galleries. On one end of the commercial district you find the Manuel Museum which houses a small number of Nez Perce artifacts, John Wayne memorabilia, western themed bronzes and civil war items. Cross town, but not far, is the Wallowa County Museum stuffed with local artifacts and oddities such as a bearskin and horsehide coat that once belonged to a country doctor who wore it to visit patients at home. Incredibly the museum building is the very bank Dave Tucker robbed over a century ago! This old town is also a year round recreation area with much to do besides the great art scene. The old west heritage of Joseph is set off by the seasonal landscape surrounding it. Wallowa Lake State Park The park is open year round, but maintains fewer camp sites during the winter. The park includes the 4 mile long Wallowa Lake which was created millions of years ago by the actions of glaciers. The pristine landscape is a vista that is just amazing. Camping, backpacking, hiking and birding are enjoyed year round. During the summer there is also boating and swimming. And, any time is good for the tram ride to the top of Mt. Howard to view wildlife, foliage, winter scenes and more. Eagle Cap Wilderness Near Joseph is Eagle Cap Wilderness, one of Oregons most notable places to backpack. In the area are more than 50 high elevation lakes. Numerous hiking trails are available to start your hiking experience into the Wallowa mountains. Eagle Cap Wilderness is part of The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, 2.3 million acres of varied landscape. It runs from the Blue Mountains and pimeval Wallowa Mountains down to the spectacular canyon country of the Snake River on the Idaho border. The forest ranges in elevation from as low as 875 feet in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and reaches a height of 9,845 feet in the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area. The Whitman National forest offers many year round activities including: Bicycling, camping and cabins, fishing, hiking, horse riding and camping, hunting, mineral prospecting, nature viewing, camping, outdoor learning, picnicking, scenic driving, water activities, winter sports and other activities. However, inside the wilderness area, mechanized equipment is banned. Anyone who loves the outdoors will enjoy Joseph and its surroundings at any time of the year.