High Desert Museum

The High Desert Museum is one of Central Oregon's great treasures. If you haven't been before, it is definitely worth the trip. This museum doesn't fall neatly into any one category.  History, wildlife, Native Americans and Children's activities are all featured here.

Settler's cabin

 The indoor exhibits include local history, Native American history/culture, desert wildlife, a children's play area (for those who stand no taller than the displayed sign). The Play Space is also available for children for an additional fee. Don't miss the Hall of Exploration and Settlement. My boys like to go through that exhibit at least twice every time we visit.

Outdoors, You'll encounter the following as you traverse the paths in a mostly clockwise direction:

• A play area that's fun/dirty in the summertime, and not conducive to inclement weather in the winter/spring. 
• The otter exhibit. Currently, there is a single otter who, as far as I can tell, is always sleeping in a dark den. I did see him yawn once. The river otter exhibit at the Oregon Zoo is much more fun, but rather inconvenient for those of us who live in Central Oregon.
• The Miller homestead. Super fun in the summertime when there are actors portraying settlers. There is a cabin, a barn, several outbuildings and an operable  steam powered sawmill (from what I understand, it hasn't been fired up in years) but it's neat to see. Don't miss the plastic port-a-potty hidden behind the cedar fence designed to look like an authentic 19th century outhouse.

Interactive wildfire exhibit

• Just down the hill from the homestead is a small building that used to house a scale model of a lumber mill. It currently (at the date of this post) houses a rather sparse exhibit on wildfires. The interactive exhibit in the corner will interest most kids for a few minutes.
• Heading down the hill, you'll pass a sculpture of a horse made from barbed wire. I think it's great. The little dock is a good place to see the fish that live in the stream. In the summer, you'll often get  to see lots of them, although late summer brings yellowjackets.

Carrion. My 5 year old's favorite display

• The Birds of Prey building is nice. Don't miss the porcupine as you head inside. The exhibits inside are a little too educational to appeal to my little guys, except for the roadkill deer being consumed by vultures. They like that. On the other side of the building, you'll have the opportunity to see a barn owl, golden eagle, two bald  eagles and a great horned owl in their outdoor enclosures. Don't feel too bad for them being all cooped up because they all have injuries/issues that would prevent them from being able to survive in the wild.

Lynx

Steam powered sawmill