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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10.23.25
9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Homeschool Day is your chance to experience a field trip at the High Desert Museum. For just $10 a child, you can participate in an interactive and interdisciplinary day exploring ideas about soil, including soil art, cultural connections to soil and meeting an animal that depends on soil. Explore our new family-friendly exhibit, Soil Alive!, that takes visitors on (more…)
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10.24.25
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Nez Perce language expert, storyteller and educator Harry Slickpoo Jr. works to preserve, share, and promote Nez Perce lifeways. As the Collections Specialist for the Nez Perce Tribe Hitéemenwees Research Library, Slickpoo uses cultural items to support the continuation of living cultures and Native languages today. Learn more about Slickpoo’s work and the resilience of (more…)
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11.01.25
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Winter hours begin! The Museum will now be open daily 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. (more…)
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11.01.25
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
November 1, 2025 – February 15, 2026 In September 2020, the Holiday Farm Fire, driven by fierce east winds, burned 173,000 acres along the forested McKenzie River canyon in the Cascades of Oregon. Hollow and Still brings together a special collection of photographs from acclaimed photographer David Paul Bayles, who was one of the first (more…)
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11.02.25
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Dr. Michelle Jacob (Yakama) emphasizes that understanding Indigenous history must go hand in hand with celebrating the vibrant contributions of Native peoples today. Rooted in Yakama traditions and the wisdom of Elders, her talk will highlight the resilience and brilliance of Indigenous communities while offering a message of hope, love, and collective strength to inspire (more…)
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11.03.25
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
A healthy garden begins with healthy soil. But what’s the recipe for good soil? A mix of plants, animals, fungi, moisture and an understanding of your soil’s individual history are necessary to support a productive garden. Join Garrett L. Duyck, Basin Resource Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, to learn about soil management in (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.
