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Experience
Wonder Visit Today Learn More Under Pressure:
A Volcanic Exploration Because volcanoes never go out of style Learn More Soil Alive! Dive underground to explore the hidden world of soil Learn More Drawn West Explore the history and art of promoting place

By Hand Through Memory exhibition will be temporarily closed for annual cleaning beginning Monday, February 9.

About the Museum

Plan Your Visit

Check out current exhibits and daily programs, find directions, rates, hours and more.

See Hours and More

Kids & Families

Explore Together

Learn about kid-friendly exhibits, activities, camps and more.

Family Fun

Education

Teach & Learn

Lifelong learning starts here! Explore teacher trainings, memorable field trips and unique school programs.

Education for Everyone

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Make an Impact

Volunteer, become a member or donate to support arts, education, wildlife and more.

Get Involved

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!

Daily Schedule

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events


  •  04.08.26
     6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Locally harvested, pre-contact foods are a testament to the resilience of Native lifestyles and should be part of our modern kitchens. Founder and CEO of Indigikitchen Mariah Gladstone (Blackfeet/ Cherokee) is leading the way in a food movement that is revitalizing these important foods. She will discuss the history of Indigenous food systems, as well (more…)


  •  04.11.26
     9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Miguel Almeida: The Hands That Feed April 11, 2026 – October 11, 2026 In a new, site-specific installation for High Desert Museum, Boise, Idaho, based artist Miguel Almeida shares vibrant murals, large scale sculptures and hand drawn animations, offering a window into the daily lives of the people that harvest the fresh fruits and vegetables (more…)


  •  04.13.26
     7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Central Oregon’s landscape is dominated by majestic volcanic peaks that seem unchanged by time. But these seemingly quiet volcanoes represent one of the most active sections of the Cascade Volcanic Range. Join Dr. Daniele McKay, senior instructor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon, to explore the geologic history of our (more…)


  •  04.15.26
     6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Public lands are a tangible aspect of life in the American West. What are the origins of public lands and how have debates over their use shaped the West? Historian, author and associate professor at Colorado State University Leisl Carr Childers will discuss the history of public lands from the American Revolution to today. 2026 (more…)


  •  04.29.26
     9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Visitors 65 and older are invited to enjoy the Museum for FREE. The Museum will also be open to the general public.  (more…)

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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.

02.7.25 -
1.3.27

Science, Nature

Under Pressure: A Volcanic Exploration

An original exhibition, Under Pressure takes visitors on an educational, insightful and thought-provoking journey into the forces that make volcanoes among the most majestic and often misunderstood natural wonders of the world, while exploring their individual stories and temperaments.

Spirit of
the West Learn More Experience the vibrant history of the West as you explore its people, their challenges and successes. Permanent Exhibits By Hand
Through Memory Learn More Discover the journey of the Plateau Indian Nations as they traveled from reservation confinement to the 21st century. Permanent Exhibits Miller Family
Ranch Learn More Living historians bring 1904 to life as they maintain the cabin, barn, willow corral and sawmill and care for their animals. Permanent Exhibits Donald M. Kerr
Birds of
Prey Center Learn More See some of nature’s most spectacular aerial predators up close: owls, hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures. Permanent Exhibits Autzen
Otter Exhibit Learn More Our three river otters define “play” in their newly-renovated exhibit. Permanent Exhibits Desertarium Learn More View High Desert reptiles, amphibians, spiders and burrowing owls. Permanent Exhibits Galleries Learn More Temporary exhibits on art, history, nature and culture. Changing Exhibits

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.