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.
The Museum
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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04.01.23
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
As of Saturday, April 1, we’ll be open daily 9:00 am – 5:00 pm! (more…)
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04.06.23
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Indigenous filmmakers are breaking barriers in true cinematic storytelling. Join LaRonn Katchia (Warm Springs, Wasco, Paiute) and other Native filmmakers as they share their current work and discuss the importance of Native representation in film. The discussion will celebrate how this work is continuing storytelling traditions and promoting positive representation of Native people. You (more…)
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04.18.23
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Renowned educator and activist Patricia Whitefoot (Yakama Nation) will discuss how Plateau tribes are passing on Indigenous knowledge and traditions to future generations. Videos and other visuals will aid in telling stories of intergenerational learning and youth engagement. Learn how you can support current advocacy efforts to enact inclusive education policies and address the full (more…)
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09.14.23
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Waterston Desert Writing Prize Award Ceremony Featuring Author and Keynote Speaker Dr. Thor Hanson Join us for an evening of literary excellence. Dr. Thor Hanson, author of Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid and The Triumph of Seeds, will speak. Author Rena Priest (Lummi), the 2023 Waterson Guest Judge, will award this year’s Prize winner. 5:30 (more…)
Changing
Exhibits
12.17.22 -
5.7.23
Natural History
Under the Snow
In the depth of winter, a deep layer of snow quiets the High Desert’s forests. But under the surface, a secret world comes to life. Under the Snow dives into the snow, where voles, shrews, insects and porcupines build a matrix of tunnels to survive the winter and hide from the predators that lurk just above the surface.
1.28.23 -
10.1.23
Culture, Art, History
Creations of Spirit
"Creations of Spirit" is a one-of-a-kind, celebratory experience featuring the stories of living works of art from seven Indigenous artists. Videos, audio and large projections will immerse visitors in the landscapes and communities in which these objects are used, highlighting the theme of artwork as alive, full of stories and created for specific purposes and people.
11.19.22 -
6.25.22
Art, History
In the Arena
Through the lens of San Francisco Bay Area photographer Gabriela Hasbun, this exhibit documents the exhilarating atmosphere of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo—the only touring Black rodeo in the country—and the showstopping style and skill of the Black cowboys and cowgirls who compete in it year after year.
