Statue of Aura Goodwin Raley
Standing in tribute to one of Pendleton’s earliest pioneers, the bronze statue of Aura Goodwin Raley, known as the “Mother of Pendleton,” honors a woman whose vision helped shape the city’s foundation. Born in Maine in 1829, Aura journeyed west by wagon train, eventually settling in what would become Pendleton in 1864. She and her first husband, Moses Goodwin, built the town’s very first house on South Main Street, opened a stage station and hotel, and even constructed a toll bridge across the Umatilla River. Generous in spirit and determination, Aura donated land for Pendleton’s original town plat, a courthouse, cemetery, and a future college block. After being widowed twice and raising her children, she remained a vital figure in Pendleton’s development for more than 50 years. Today, NW Aura Avenue and this bronze tribute stand in recognition of her enduring legacy.