High Desert Museum (Overview)

Digging in the Garden at the Miller Family Ranch

From the High Desert Museum Website:

"Mission: Through exhibits, wildlife, and living history, High Desert Museum creates learning experiences to help audiences discover their connection to the past, their role in the present, and their responsibility to the future.

"Purpose:  To enable a deeper understanding of the region's arts, culture, history and natural sciences through the presentation and interpretation of visual art exhibits, historical artifacts, living history performances and wildlife encounters."

My Comments:

OK, that was really dry and hardly helps you to know what kind of experiences you and your kids will have at the High Desert Museum. It's actually a very kid friendly place.  Here are the highlights of the most kid friendly exhibits:

Historic Forest Service Firetruck

• In the summer, the outdoor exhibits are pretty fun. For example, The Miller Family Ranch showcases life in the old west.  There is also wildlife viewing (lots of golden mantle ground squirrels) and a replica steam powered sawmill.  There is also a place to burn off some energy in the Dig, Crawl, Climb playground.

• During the colder months, the inside exhibits are appealing. The Spirit of the West exhibit is an amazing piece of craftsmanship, and there are surprises around every corner. You can even download an 30 minute audio guide for your mobile device here.  You can see lizards, tortoises, snakes, and scorpions in the Desertarium.  A bobcat and a lynx have homes near the center of the main building.  The exhibit Whose Home is actually a nice little playground with little creatures hidden under rocks.  

• Outside the main museum, a short walk through the weather, there is a birds of prey building (just past the porcupines) and in the opposite direction, a river otter exhibit.  Both of these exhibits have indoor and outdoor viewing areas

The High Desert Museum also hosts some traveling exhibits.  Right now, they have butterflies and hummingbirds.

Hours and admission Rates are here. If you live in Central Oregon, you should consider becoming a member.  It doesn't take many visits to pay for itself.

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