Ephrata was a summer Indian camp where hundreds of Indians spent weeks gathering roots at the springs west of here. It was the gateway between Walla Walla and Okanogan, and Indians, military expeditions, and wagons traveled here in 1880. The first settlers, the Eddens, built a 7’ x 16’ log cabin behind the present courthouse. The railroad came in 1892, the last roundup of 5,000 horses was in 1909, and this courthouse was built in 1917.