The first settlers and residents, who were stockman, of the Ephrata area came in the early 1880s. Ephrata was a convenient stop for the trains of the Great Northern Railroad , and for travelers and wagons moving from Walla Walla to the northern Okanogan region. Formal layout of the city was first developed in 1901 and shortly after incorporation in 1909 the town was named county seat for the newly created Grant County. The Grand Coulee Dam and 3 other massive government projects brought growth, prosperity, talented people, and their families to Ephrata. Visitors can experience this past in its recreation by the exhibits in Grant County's Historical Museum & Village. This historic museum situated on 3.75 acres and is a complex of buildings, historic settings, colorful displays and objects.