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All 35 Bend Attractions »

High Desert Museum

59800 South Highway 97, Bend, OR 97702-7963
541-382-4754
Ranked #1 of 24 attractions in Bend
4.5 of 5 stars 93 Reviews
Type: Museums, History Museums
Activities: Viewing wildlife
Traveler Description: A world-renowned museum exploring the culture, history and wildlife of the High Desert. Meet live desert animals including a bobcat, lynx, otter... more »
Useful Information: Activities for young children
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93 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    68
    19
    5
    1
    0
Date Rating
Bainbridge Island, WA
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 27, 2012 NEW

Putting together a museum that manages to appeal to both kids and their parents is a real challenge that the High Desert Museum outside Bend manages with remarkable aplomb. Don't like indoor museum displays on a sunny Northwest day? How 'bout an outdoor re-creation of the frontier Northwest encampment, complete with informative guides in costume? Don't care for so much... More

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Haiku, Hawaii
1 review
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 25, 2012 NEW

My boys like to explore the great outdoors so a museum is not on their activity list when we go on vacation. While camping in OR I decided we should stop at the High Desert Museum for a break from the drive and for a little education. We stayed there for 3 hours, following the kids interests. (My three young... More

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Baker City, Oregon, United States
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 25, 2012 NEW

I was there with my family, interesting but museums just aren't my thing. More

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Portland, Oregon
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 23, 2012 NEW

Definitely exceeded my expectations. A really nice museum that is educational, entertaining, interactive, and has some really great displays. Plus it has a interactive outdoor area that takes you back to the late 19th/early 20th century time period. Take some time & take the kids, you'll all learn a ton. Very kid (5-12) friendly. More

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Tigard, Oregon
Senior Contributor
41 reviews 41 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed May 13, 2012

This place was very disappointing. My wife is a photographer, and what few animals they have here, are very difficult to photograph. The lighting is poor, and the admission cost is ridiculous, considering what's there. It's too bad. It's funny that they must have parking for 500+ cars. I think a lot of people are getting taken. More

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See 3 more reviews by Dave M for Bend
Newport, OR
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 6, 2012

It's a different kind of museum and nicely portrays the area. More

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See 2 more reviews by topsnoop for Bend
Hawaii
Senior Contributor
26 reviews 26 reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 4, 2012

Not much to see for the high price. Was suggested by young relatives, but it really wasn't geared for adults. Some animals were visible at the time we visited. (Actual visit was several years ago.) More

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See 3 more reviews by MauiNotKaoi for Bend
Victoria, Canada
Top Contributor
51 reviews 51 reviews
Reviews in 30 cities Reviews in 30 cities
22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 2, 2012

a very good museum with lots to see. the grounds and facilities are very good. did not have time to see it all, but very interesting exhibits indoors and nice trails to walk outside with interpretative signs to. The permanent exhibits were very well done, plus there were some interesting temporary exhibits as well. More

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Milwaukee, wi
Senior Contributor
23 reviews 23 reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 1, 2012

Spent an enjoyable afternoon with the bobcat, bald eagles, hawks and a variety of other rescued animals at this excellent museum! A treasure for the locals, a special place for my 2 1/2 year old and her older friends to run about and learn about the area wildlife. More

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See 3 more reviews by cao1530 for Bend
Boxford, Massachusetts
Senior Contributor
24 reviews 24 reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
14 helpful votes 14 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 30, 2012

Be sure to go when you are in Bend. It has something of interest for every family member from very young to very old. More

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See 2 more reviews by BarbWas for Bend

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