Back to the Bat Cave
Adam West and Bruce Ward as Batman and Robin, 1966
Kirkman House Museum is excited to present Adam West as we celebrate the life of the TV hero and the hometown boy Bill Anderson. The event will be on Saturday, 19, 2026, from 9 am to 4 pm.
Journey with us as we learn the history and background of the man who would become Batman. The son of a farmer-father and an entertainer-mother, Bill attended Green Park Elementary, Walla Walla High School and Lakeside in Seattle. He returned to the valley in 1946 to attend Whitman College. Explore Bill’s path after Whitman to his early days in Hollywood when he adopted the name Adam West and won the role that would define his career. See replicas of Batman’s famous cowl, the red Bat Phone, and Shakespeare’s bust.
This interactive exhibit places you in Bruce Wayne’s den where you can receive a call from Commissioner Gordon on the Bat Phone and then try to figure out how to reveal the Bat Poles. View clips from Adam’s career on the Bat Viewer, styled after the Bat Computers in the Bat Cave.
Discover the pride that Walla Wallans feel for their own superhero through personal photos, articles and memorabilia. Adam West’s Batman, the role for which he is known around the world, was a unique spin on a classic character. From Batman’s early days in the comics of old to the modern blockbusters that have come to define a new generation of hero, the history of the character and the man will be connected in the hearts and minds of fans forever.
Our thanks to Jonathan Grant for donating many of the items for the exhibit. As manager of the Marcus Whitman Hotel, Jonathan became friends with Adam West when West stayed at the hotel during his visits to Walla Walla. Adam passed away in 2017.
Since his death, Adam West Days have been celebrated in Walla Walla each September near his birthday. This year, admission to the grounds is free. Explore the entire museum at regular prices or the Adam West Room only at a reduced rate. This is the ninth annual celebration of Adam West’s life.
Enjoy the videos of the Adam West Day celebration at Kirkman House in 2025.