with us!
World
Wonder
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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07.04.22
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
The Museum is closed on Monday, July 4 for the Independence Day holiday. (more…)
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07.09.22
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
On hot summer days, who wouldn’t love to help make (and eat) some homemade ice cream?! Head out to the Ranch to see how ice cream was made in 1904 using an authentic cedar tub freezer. Learn about the history of this delicious treat and how many turns it takes to create it! Then (more…)
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07.10.22
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Photo by John Mikkelson. Don’t miss your last chance to bask in the glow of Vanishing Night! The High Desert boasts some of the darkest night skies in the United States. But increasing light pollution emanating from urban centers threatens the health of species that depend on the dark. Vanishing Night: Conserving Dark Skies in (more…)
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07.10.22
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Don’t miss your last chance to celebrate this year’s Kids Curate exhibition! From the hands and hearts of student artists, Kids Curate: The Power of Process brings the voices from the halls of Hugh Hartman Elementary School in Redmond to the walls of the Museum. The Kids Curate program, now in its 10th year, uses (more…)
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07.16.22
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Full steam ahead! See the 1904 Lazinka Sawmill in action and discover how critical steam-powered sawmills were to families in the High Desert. Free with Museum admission (more…)
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07.23.22
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
This annual, juried art exhibition attracts well-known artists from around the country. Proceeds of the silent auction help support the Museum’s educational programs. Made possible by With support from (more…)
Changing
Exhibits
5.28.22 -
11.27.22
Art
Lair: Light and the Art of Stephen Hendee
Immerse yourself in a futuristic world of light and sound. The glowing, high-tech world of Stephen Hendee explores the spaces in which we live, both physically and virtually.
1.29.22 -
9.25.22
History, Art
Imagine a World
In the original exhibit, the Museum examines efforts over the decades to create ideal societies throughout the Western United States—from the glass domes of Arizona’s Biosphere 2 to the infamous Rajneeshpuram of “Wild, Wild Country.”
4.16.22 -
7.10.22
Natural History, Art
Vanishing Night: Conserving Dark Skies in the High Desert
Explore breathtaking large-scale imagery of the changing High Desert skies alongside information about the harm light pollution causes to wildlife. “Vanishing Night” offers simple solutions for all residents to cut back their use of artificial light.
the West
Through Memory
Ranch
Birds of
Prey Center
Otter Exhibit
