High Desert Museum, Bend, Oregon
The High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon, provides an immersive experience that blends regional history, natural wildlife, and cultural art. Visitors can explore diverse attractions such as the Autzen Otter Exhibit, the Birds of Prey Center, and a living history ranch that recreates life for 19th-century homesteaders.
Hours of Operation
Summer Hours (March 1 – October 31): The Museum is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Winter Hours (November 1 – February 28): The Museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Closed: July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Admission
-
Summer (March 1 – Oct 31) $24
Winter (Nov 1 – Feb 28) $20
-
Summer (March 1 – Oct 31) $19
Winter (Nov 1 – Feb 28) $17
-
Summer (March 1 – Oct 31) $13
Winter (Nov 1 – Feb 28) $12
2 and younger are FREE
The Museum offers free entry to several specific groups:
Active U.S. Military: Free for active-duty personnel, National Guard, and Reserve, plus up to five family members through the Blue Star Museums program (identification required).
Tribal Members: Free admission with a valid ID.
Museum Members: Unlimited free admission year-round.
Equipment
Sunscreen
Comfortable shoes or sandals
Dress for the weather
Important Notes
Drones are NOT allowed at this location.
Dogs are NOT permitted inside the museum. They do have kennels available where you can leave your dog. They are located in the parking lot. Not something I would recommend doing. We scheduled all “Dog Free” activities for one day and dropped Asa off at a doggie day care at Must Love Paws rather than using the Museum kennel.
Timing: The museum suggests allowing at least two to three hours for a visit, but between the changing art exhibitions and the daily programs, you could easily spend much longer.
Dining and Shopping: We grabbed a specialty salad at the Rimrock Café (The Ahi Tuna Salad was incredible) and found a great gift at Silver Sage Trading.
Accessibility: I was impressed to learn the museum is certified by KultureCity, offering sensory bags with noise-canceling headphones for those who need them.
Tickets: While you can buy tickets in advance to speed up entry, they aren't required, as there is plenty of capacity for walk-ins.
Approach
From Bend, Oregon: Follow US-97 south for about 6 miles. Turn left where directed to by the signs, and follow the road into the parking lot.
Wildlife Up Close
One of the most joyful parts of my visit was the Autzen Otter Exhibit. Watching the resident river otters—Brook, Pitch, and Wesley—play on their slide and swim was a highlight. The exhibit's renovation includes incredible underwater viewing windows where you can see their "bubble trails" as they dive. I also made sure to visit the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center, where I got a close-up look at spectacular predators like Nicholas the golden eagle and Luna the great horned owl. It is fascinating to learn that many of these animals are here because they are "imprinted" on humans and wouldn't survive in the wild on their own.
A Journey Through Time
The indoor exhibits offer what the museum calls an "unforgettable walk through time". In the Spirit of the West gallery, I strolled past a Northern Paiute shelter and a fur trapper’s camp before ending up in the detailed boomtown of Silver City.
Equally powerful was the By Hand Through Memory exhibit. This immersive space highlights the resilience of Indigenous Plateau Nations, such as the Nez Perce and Warm Springs people, as they transitioned from reservation confinement into the 21st century. It was a moving reminder that the museum sits on and shares the stories of what will always be the Indigenous Plateau.
Life on the Ranch
Heading outdoors, we followed the winding interpretive paths to the High Desert Ranch. This exhibit brings 1904 homesteading to life through the story of a fictional family. We explored an authentic homestead and sawmill, and even spotted some heirloom Faverolles chickens with their distinctive feathered feet. On winter weekends, you can even warm up by the stove while listening to tales of yesteryear.
We didn’t stay too long in this area. We had seen a lot of farmstead living.
Summary
The otters are the highlight from the wildlife perspective. We did enjoy the museum and the rich history it presented. It is quite kid-focused in many areas, so if you have them in tow, this makes for a memorable outing. We do recommend it for kids of all ages. You will have fun if you find the things that interest you and spend your time there.
The surrounding area is gorgeous and has a lot of other fun activities, such as:
Petersen Rock Garden and Museum
Lava Butte Lookout
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Lava River Cave
