Wonder
Earth, Water, Sky
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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01.05.26
10:00 am
Submissions open for 2026 Waterston Desert Writing Prize! The Museum begins accepting submissions for the 2026 Waterston Desert Writing Prize. This will be the 12th anniversary of the prize, which honors creative nonfiction that illustrates artistic excellence, sensitivity to place and desert literacy, with deserts as both subject and setting. The submission deadline is May (more…)
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01.05.26
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Holiday Farm Fire along the Mackenzie River burned over 173,000 acres in 2020, one of the largest wildfires in Oregon history. Join photographer David Paul Bayles and disturbance ecologist Fred Swanson as they share the story of forest regeneration and fuel buildup in the face of climate uncertainty through scientific observations and fine art (more…)
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01.08.26
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
The Museum will be closed for staff development. We’ll reopen at 10:00 am on Friday, January 9! (more…)
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01.18.26
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Last chance to see Joe Feddersen: Earth, Water, Sky! Joe Feddersen: Earth, Water, Sky is organized by the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane, Washington, and curated by heather ahtone, director of curatorial affairs, First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, and Rachel Allen, curator of modern and contemporary art at the Northwest Museum of (more…)
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01.31.26
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Everyone gets in free! 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Made possible by Photo by Todd Cary (more…)
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02.02.26
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The images we see from the James Webb Space Telescope are more than just a picture. They are the result of billions of photons filtered, counted and interpreted by astronomers. How do astronomers know what they’re looking at when objects can be specks, or raw data are just lines, spikes and dots? Join Dr. Brandon (more…)
Changing
Exhibits
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. 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.
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.
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.
