 Lt. Symons came past the mid-Crab Creek area while laying out the "Military Wagon Road" from Fort Walla Walla to Camp Chelan in 1879.The "Old Wagon Road" was established along the creek from Waterville, Washington to Ritzville, Washington in 1888.Prior to establishing irrigation, most of the areas along Upper Crab Creek were bunchgrass prairie, which was suited to range cattle and sheep.