Wonder
opening February 7
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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02.12.26
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join us for an exclusive evening dedicated to our members as we celebrate the Museum’s interactive exhibit, Soil Alive! Explore the fascinating world beneath our feet and enjoy hands-on activities, music and down-to-earth fun. Immerse yourself in the hidden world beneath us and discover what makes the High Desert thrive from the ground up. You (more…)
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02.15.26
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Last chance to see Hollow and Still: Photographs Following Fire by David Paul Bayles! (more…)
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02.19.26
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Come on an adventure! Children ages 3-5 and their caregivers learn together through science, art and stories with fun, hands-on activities from 10:00 am to 11:00 am Thursdays (unless otherwise noted). Each week introduces a new theme. NATURE LAB, February 19 What happens when you put a pinecone in water? Do some rocks float? We’ll get (more…)
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02.20.26
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Step back into the 1920s for a night where suede meets silk and fringe is everywhere. A Fringe Affair celebrates those icons of Americana — the cowboy and the flapper — as they meet at the edge of acceptability, trading the constraints of polite society for freedom, self-expression, and lives defined by movement, music, and (more…)
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02.21.26
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
February 21, 2026 – April 26, 2026 A new, unexpected series of works by artist Hilary Baker, Prophets investigates the symbology of moths. Though great pollinators and surprisingly beautiful, moths have long been saddled as omens of destruction and misfortune. Baker began painting moths after witnessing the loss of her longtime home to the Palisades (more…)
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02.26.26
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Come on an adventure! Children ages 3-5 and their caregivers learn together through science, art and stories with fun, hands-on activities from 10:00 am to 11:00 am Thursdays (unless otherwise noted). Each week introduces a new theme. SNOWOLOGY, February 26 It (more…)
Changing
Exhibits
10.18.25 -
3.29.26
Science, Natural History
Soil Alive!
From dry and sandy to slimy and wet, many types of soils exist in the High Desert. But all healthy soils have one important thing in common: they form the foundation of the West’s ecosystems. This family-friendly exhibit takes visitors on a subterranean journey to encounter mycorrhizal networks, burrowing animals, and microscopic organisms. Dive underground to explore the hidden world of soil. Presented in English and Spanish.
11.1.25 -
2.15.26
Art, Natural History
Hollow and Still: Photographs Following Fire by David Paul Bayles
In September 2020, the Holiday Farm Fire, driven by fierce east winds, burned 173,000 acres along the forested McKenzie River canyon. Hollow and Still brings together a special collection of photographs from acclaimed photographer David Paul Bayles.
11.15.25 -
6.28.26
Art, History
Drawn West: A History of Promoting Place
Explore a century of salesmanship, when artists and cartographers alike crafted an image of the West that depicted both fact and fiction in this visually engaging exhibition featuring 50-plus maps, artworks and advertisements from the Museum's collection.
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.
