Wonder
Fractals in Nature
opening September 27
About the Museum
Plan Your Visit
Check out current exhibits and daily programs, find directions, rates, hours and more.
Education
Teach & Learn
Lifelong learning starts here! Explore teacher trainings, memorable field trips and unique school programs.
Join the HDM Family
Make an Impact
Volunteer, become a member or donate to support arts, education, wildlife and more.
Wildlife, History & Art
Otters, porcupines, owls, oh my! Encounter wildlife up close, explore the history and culture of the wild West and take in beautiful art. The High Desert Museum is a cultural gem set on 135 acres of awe. It’s no wonder visitors voted us one of the best things to do in Bend Oregon!
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
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09.23.25
7:00 am - 9:00 am
Photo by Todd Cary Save the date! Fall and Winter Kids Camp registration opens at 7:00 am. (more…)
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09.24.25
12:00 pm
The 20-Dollar Art Show Extravaganza tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, September 24 at 12:00 pm. (more…)
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09.25.25
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Join us for a celebration for the Waterston Desert Writing Prize winner, Heather Quinn! Hear from the winner and the 2025 keynote speaker, award-winning author Dan Flores. Flores focuses on nature writing and the biographies of animals. His most recent work was 2023 Rachel Carson Book Prize winner Wild New World: The Epic Story of (more…)
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09.26.25
6:45 pm - 8:30 pm
Join Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. and the High Desert Museum for an exclusive opening night celebration of the exhibition Joe Feddersen: Earth, Water, Sky, a career retrospective of nationally renowned artist Joe Feddersen (b. 1953, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation). Hear from Feddersen himself before exploring the exhibition and its comprehensive showing of (more…)
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09.27.25
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
September 27, 2025 — January 18, 2026 Joe Feddersen: Earth, Water, Sky is a career retrospective of nationally renowned artist Joe Feddersen (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation). This exhibition gathers four decades of the prolific artist’s prints, glass, weaving, and ceramics in the largest and most comprehensive showing of his career to date. From (more…)
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10.03.25
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The past 50 years have seen a remarkable revolution in the way scientists study nature’s scenery. At the heart of this revolution lies the discovery of intricate patterns called fractals. The growing impact of these natural patterns raises a crucial question – can nature’s beauty trigger a dramatic reduction in stress and mental fatigue? Join (more…)
Changing
Exhibits
2.22.25 -
10.5.25
Science, Natural History
Patterns at Play: Fractals in Nature
Fractals are never-ending patterns that repeat the same shape at bigger and smaller scales. From mountain ranges and the galaxy to snow crystals and brain neurons, fractals big and small exist all around us. Step inside this fun, funky and family-friendly exhibit. You can learn to build a fractal, listen to the sound of sonic fractals, relax in a bean bag chair and watch an animation create new fractals right before your eyes. Are you ready to be mesmerized?
7.5.25 -
9.20.25
Art
Art in the West
Art in the West is an annual juried fine art exhibition and online silent auction featuring art that celebrates the landscapes, wildlife, people, cultures and history of the High Desert—a region that stretches from the eastern slope of the Cascades and Sierras to the Wyoming Basin and Colorado Plateau. Featuring nearly 120 pieces from 80-plus nationally and regionally acclaimed artists, Art in the West blankets the walls of the Museum.
9.27.25 -
1.18.26
Art, History
Joe Feddersen: Earth, Water, Sky
Joe Feddersen: Earth, Water, Sky is a career retrospective of nationally renowned artist Joe Feddersen (b. 1953, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation). This exhibition gathers close to 100 works spanning four decades of Feddersen’s prolific career — from prints and glass to weaving and ceramics. The collective richness of his body of work is testament to Feddersen’s appreciation of and respect for the land. Feddersen cultivates a visual vernacular that draws upon recognizable signs, symbols and forms. Organized by the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. Joe Feddersen: Earth, Water, Sky was made possible through major support from the Henry Luce Foundation, the Terra Foundation for American Art, and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Additional support provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
the West
Through Memory
Ranch
Birds of
Prey Center
Otter Exhibit
The Institute of Museum and Library Services named the High Desert Museum as one of six recipients of the 2021 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.
The Museum was recognized for providing dynamic programming and services through community outreach, working to create programs that offer rich educational programming and expand museum access.

