High Desert Museum
High Desert Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
This one-of-a kind Museum reveals the nature of things in the West’s High Desert through artful exhibits, alluring animals, engaging programs and meaningful history. Otters, porcupines, owls, oh my! Encounter wildlife up close, explore the history and culture of this vast region and take in beautiful art. Get a close-up view of native wildlife, such as an otter, burrowing owl, porcupine and gray fox. Visit an authentic ranch and sawmill from 1904. In the summer, experience a close flying encounter with owls, falcons, hawks and even a vulture. Learn about Native American culture and history and delight your children with one of many fun, hands-on programs that bring history and science to life. With 135 acres and more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, it’s a “must see” for anyone traveling through the area. Go to highdesertmuseum.org/tickets for more details!
Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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  • Julie S
    Prineville, Oregon7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Free Museum Day
    It's always fun visiting the museum. Enjoy all the critters. Owls, eagles, hawks, turtles, newts, and Otters. The revolving exhibit is new on each visit. This time it was an art exhibit of a collection of Andy Warhol pieces.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written February 29, 2024
  • kiterunner55
    Portland, Oregon61 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great raptor show
    Paid $5 extra for the raptor show - amazing and well worth it. Five raptor species repeatedly swooping a few inches over our heads. Best raptor show I have seen by far. Also up close visits with great horned owl and red tail hawk, just a couple feet away and perched on handler's arm. All the birds are there because of injuries etc so they can't make it in the wild. Very fun outdoor otters, on grass and in water, with nice otter talk by staff. All are rescue animals. Great Native American and central Oregon anthropology exhibits. Spent 2.5 hours, could be more. Cost 20 dollars, 17 for seniors and most kids(?).
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 12, 2024
  • seekingwarmerclimes
    Anchorage, Alaska105 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The otters are great
    Thank goodness for the otters or this one might’ve been a bit of a bust. There is some interesting historical stuff including of the native Americans in the region. Also some cool snakes, lizards and such as populate the high desert area. But the entrance fee is pretty steep and I personally felt it almost was not worth it. That said, our younger kids (7 and 9) really liked it and it did seem to be pretty good for younger families
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 21, 2024
  • TOURtheWORLDMexPal
    United States3,577 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wow, what a surprise treat
    Well put together and well organized museum. It is the highlight and the top to do in Bend. Get there early, as it gets busy. There are two guided special presentations at 10:30 and 11:30 for 30 minutes each. For kids, good to attend. Museum indoor and outdoor, it is like a mini zoo too and nice history tour. Plan minimum 2 hours for the visit and more if to join the presentations and visit every thing. I very highly recommend the visit.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 3, 2024
  • Julie P
    18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must see for children and grownups
    This was a great way to experience life in the high desert region. The land is beautiful, the animals are a joy to watch. The raptor show was amazing. They are careful to point out how animals came to be there usually through injury and now can’t survive on their own. My favorite was the porcupine! I loved the art exhibit with the paintings combining animals with Sara Teasdale’s “There will come soft rains”. It is one of my favorite poems. The exhibits showing humans expansions into the area are entertaining and education. This is a must see if coming to this area
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written July 6, 2024
  • Sara S
    Oak Grove, Louisiana129 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    They have otters!
    This is a pretty cool little museum. We stopped here thinking there was a restaurant but realized it is a little cafe inside the museum. We decided to check it out & enjoyed our time there. The cafe menu was pretty limited but the food was great. You can eat inside or go outside & eat on the covered deck. After eating we went to see the otters. It’s a short walk from the cafe. The world of otter entrance goes underground where you walk inside & can view the otters from a window while they’re under the water. There are a few windows for viewing. If you walk all the way through the door that leads back outside it will take you to another viewing spot to see the otters playing & swimming outside. There was 3 otters that we saw. They seemed happy & playful. Our last stop was the gift shop on the way out. There’s lots of beautiful gifts available. One thing that stood out to me that I thought was really cool is the dog kennels that are available in the parking area of the museum. It looked like there were 4 kennels that were covered & had raised dog beds in each one for anyone traveling with their dogs bc pets are not allowed in the museum. Definitely a cool little spot if you have time when traveling through this area.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 23, 2024
  • Lalo Fuentes
    Nanaimo, Canada3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A visit to an incredible museum
    Spent 4 hours there and probably did not see everything. One of the highlights was speaking to "Irene" Harper at the settlers cabin. The year was 1904 and she was very concerned about her husband who went to investigate the killing of sheep up in the montains. Hope he returned safely. Fantastic museum
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 26, 2024
  • John K
    Mesquite, Nevada84 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Variety and then some!
    This museum had a variety of things to see and do, including sculptures, live animal enclosures, native peoples exhibit, settlers exhibit/living history museum, birds of prey encounter and more. The staff were all pleasant and extremely helpful in assisting us as we navigated the place. All the exhibits were accessible and informative. We would highly recommend a visit here.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 31, 2024
  • RancherRebecca
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Raptors and otters and a bobcat, oh my!
    Wonderful and highly informative about the local flora and fauna. The raptor show is outstanding! Requires a separate ticket and sells out so go early. There are a lot of excellent talks to hear and animals to see.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 2, 2024
  • Autumn G
    447 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful and Thoughtful Museum Exhibit!
    This museum cannot be missed when visiting Bend! A mixture of indoor and outdoor exhibits. We spent about 3 hours here and felt like we saw most of the museum, though you could spend longer. It would be entertaining for any age and was very well done!
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written August 11, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,991 reviews
Excellent
1,490
Very good
395
Average
85
Poor
15
Terrible
7

Tita0809
Hermiston, OR80 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
I was not excited to visit a museum in Bend since Bend is know for its natural outdoor beauty, however, I was extremely happy to visit this museum since it represents really well the natural beauty of the area. The live exhibition is great. I though I would spend 1 hr there and i ended up spending 4 hours walking around and enjoying the culture, history, and natural beauty of OR very well represented on this museum.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for giving us a chance and visiting the High Desert Museum! It's so much more than one expects and with our ever-changing exhibits, there's always something new to explore. If you made it here during our snowfall, that would make for a very special visit. Watching the otters play in the snow, nothing compares! Thank you again for your visit and we hope you stop by again on your next Central Oregon adventure!
Written January 28, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

un20023
Milwaukie, OR5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
Was by far the most interesting historical museum I have visited related to Human habitation in the region. Fantastic Native American Indian artifact displays, historical accounts of US Government treaties, Oregon Trail, gold rush, Chinese influence, and even a replica gold mine!

Live animal displays included native snakes, lizards, tortoises, turtles, porcupine, and a separate building housing several different raptors (birds of prey). Outdoor walking paths through beautifully maintained natural areas with creeks running throughout hosted various bronze statues of local flora and fauna. Could have spent several hours there, as there were numerous speakers providing informational walkabouts with talks on local plants and animals. Highly recommend! Will definitely visit again!
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Peter K
Hurricane, UT862 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020
We visited here on 6/22/20. We spent about three hours exploring the museum and grounds. We found the raptors, otters, snakes, lizards and ground owls fascinating.
There is a section on the local Indian tribes, early settlers to the area and an interesting photo gallery.
There is a good sized interior museum and a number of exterior buildings to explore. There is plenty of parking and a nice gift shop.
Covid 19 precautions
You are required to wear a mask inside the museum, you can take it off outside. There were several hand sanitizer stations and for the most part social distancing was observed.
The cafe was closed
If you are in the area this is worth visiting.
Written July 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stull1941@gmail.com
East Olympia, WA27 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
We had high expectations. Displays inside were largely very armature. Otters were missing in action. Lunch was expensive and service was slow. Entry was $20 per person. The whole facility looks like it was patched together. Too call it a museum is an overstatement. Likely good for kids under 12. Covid recommendations were not present.
Written June 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tatiana H
Charleston, SC11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
I don’t think I’ve ever visited a museum that had this much information about natural history and living history/history of people of the area. I didn’t know there wouldn’t be interpreters in the living history area during our visit, but we had a great time anyway. Really well-curated exhibits and yes, the playful otter in the snow was the cherry on top! Definitely recommend.
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for visiting! We always aim to surprise and surpass expectations. Between the wildlife, living history characters, exhibits exploring nature, art, culture and history, we truly believe the Museum has something of interest for everyone and many reasons to return, learning experiences for everyone. Come see us again soon!
Written January 28, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Michael M
Lebanon, OR685 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
My family of 5 loved this place. My wife and our kids (10, 8 and 3) all enjoyed it. They have a ton of indoor exhibits and my kids especially enjoyed the owls. Outside they loved the eagles and otters. The otters were all cuddled up in their den and it was adorable. We also walked around the open area which is to be like an old farm. It was cold and there was snow on the ground, but that only added seemingly to the authenticity. Plenty of stuff to do, a cafe to eat at and a nice gift shop. We really liked it.
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jasmine38Chichester UK
Chichester, UK1,983 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022 • Couples
The museum is well set out with sections on different topics. The native American area has some wonderful exhibits. There dioramas are very good too, especially the mining one. About 2/3 of the museum is indoors so can be enjoyed if the weather isn't great and there is something to appeal to all age groups. You need to allow at least two hours for a visit.

However. I had expected to see more animals The birds were all out of bounds due to avian flu so the two main displays were cancelled. The porcupine was also absent so this only left a few reptiles, the fox and otters.

I do think when some of the main features are unavailable the entry price should be reduced accordingly and felt 20 USD entry was rather steep.
Written July 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julie Mae
Prineville, OR105 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Every year The High Desert Museum hosts Family Free Days in January and February. With rotating exhibits, bird shows, otters, owls, and other critters, there is something new to see. High Desert heritage is displayed along with a mining town replica. The otters are not to be missed. They are fun and playful and always a joy to watch. Both my children love the museum.
Written February 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie, thank you so much for your review. Family Free Days are so important to us, giving everyone access to the Museum. This is a Museum for everyone! And they are such busy days, it's all hands on deck. I love it! Between the wildlife, living history characters, exhibits exploring nature, art, culture and history, we truly believe the Museum has something of interest for everyone and many reasons to return, learning experiences for everyone. Come see us again soon!
Written March 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Anthony T
Coeur d'Alene, ID201 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
The rapter demonstration is amazing. I never expected to be so enthralled. It is definitely worth the extra ticket price. We also really enjoyed the river otter exhibit. Too many displays and animals are not currently open, but the museum is still worth the admission price.
Written August 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Preslee Ann
Pasco, WA74 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
This museum was fairly interesting but the admission fee seemed high for what they offered. Some interesting exhibits but seeing caged animals... even snakes and frogs ...was a bit sad. Otters were pretty cute and entertaining. Didn’t care for the vultures feeding on the dead carcass statue but that’s me. Overall I give it a meh but pretty educational for kids and maybe it’s just not my cup of tea.
Written April 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolyn, thank you for your open and honest review. The visitor experience is so important to us and our teams do all look at constructive criticism as very useful opportunities. Please know that all of the wildlife in our care are non-releasable creatures. They all have a different story, from injuries to being imprinted on humans. Our wildlife team goes above and beyond in their enrichment and making sure they live full lives, knowing that if they were released into the wild, they wouldn't survive. They get to be here in our care and act as ambassadors for their species. I will pass on the comment about the vulture and deer installation to our curators and wildlife team. Thank you again for visiting and sharing your thoughts. We appreciate it!
Written April 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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High Desert Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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