High Desert Museum

High Desert Museum Explore the art, cultures, history & natural world of the High Desert! Experience Wonder

09/02/2026

One visitor told our volunteer this show made her cry — in the best way. 🥹
Raptors of the Desert Sky ends September 7.

Don't miss it.

08/28/2026

We are profoundly grateful to supporters like you for helping us raise funds in support of our mission. Thank you to everyone who celebrated last Saturday with us at the High Desert Rendezvous.

He's basically Central Oregon's go-to porcupine guy. 🦔Jon Nelson, our Senior Curator of Wildlife, recently won ODFW's 20...
08/21/2026

He's basically Central Oregon's go-to porcupine guy. 🦔

Jon Nelson, our Senior Curator of Wildlife, recently won ODFW's 2026 Standout Volunteer Award — and honestly, the résumé backs it up.

For the past year and a half he has been a key partner on ODFW's porcupine monitoring project, helping train volunteers and deploy trail cameras across Oregon. He also built an iNaturalist project to organize the observations, and is now the platform's top observer of North American porcupines in the world, with more than 1,600 sightings logged.

Beyond that, he has contributed to wildlife crossing surveys, carnivore studies, raptor monitoring, and bird banding, plus he mentors the interns and volunteers who come through the Museum. PHEW!

Proof that his commitment to Central Oregon wildlife doesn't clock out when he leaves the Museum.

08/20/2026

Not every kid is ready for a hawk at eye level. That's okay! Raptors of the Desert Sky is recommended for ages 5 and up, gate closes at 11:15 am, and there’s no late entry, for the birds' sake.

As an alternative to Raptors of the Desert Sky, we offer: Meet an Animal Ambassador! 🦔
11:30 am daily | Outside the Raptors of the Desert Sky gate | Included with Admission

An up-close experience with one of the animals in the Museum's care—a perfect option for younger visitors! Includes a Q&A with Museum staff following the presentation. The program is approximately 10 minutes.

Congratulations to Alexa Hagerty, winner of the 12th annual Waterston Desert Writing Prize! 🎉Alexa, a writer and anthrop...
08/18/2026

Congratulations to Alexa Hagerty, winner of the 12th annual Waterston Desert Writing Prize! 🎉

Alexa, a writer and anthropologist, was recognized for "Salt, Cloud, Ghost: A Journey through Desert, Deep Time, and Digital Age," a journey through Chile's Atacama Desert where the extraction of minerals and data for AI meets the region's long history of colonialism, dictatorship and disappearance. She's also the author of "Still Life with Bones: Genocide, Forensics, and What Remains," a New York Times Editors' Choice, one of the New Yorker Best Books of the Year, and winner of the 2024 Juan E. Méndez Book Award for Human Rights in Latin America.

Join us at the Museum on September 17 to celebrate Alexa and hear from keynote speaker Joy Harjo, the 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate. Tickets are $10, with a 20% discount for members.

Get your tickets: https://ow.ly/hG2S50ZB6Xn

Today, Smokey Bear turns 82 — and the Museum is marking the occasion with a look into our collections, where a 1950s Smo...
08/09/2026

Today, Smokey Bear turns 82 — and the Museum is marking the occasion with a look into our collections, where a 1950s Smokey Bear costume has been carefully preserved.

It's easy to think of Smokey as a nostalgic mascot. But this wildfire season across Oregon and Washington has been one of the most difficult in recent memory, and his message — "Only you can prevent wildfires" — has never felt more relevant. As a Museum dedicated to the High Desert region, thoughtful stewardship of the land is core to what we do, and that includes recognizing the toll this fire season has taken on the communities around us.

So this weekend, we're celebrating Smokey's birthday not just with nostalgia, but with renewed attention to his message. Take a moment this Sunday to think about fire safety in your own life — and if you're able, support the firefighters and communities working through this season.

Thank you, Smokey. We're listening.

Earlier this year, Brad Parry became the inaugural winner of the Jordan Schnitzer Prize of the West for his efforts to r...
08/04/2026

Earlier this year, Brad Parry became the inaugural winner of the Jordan Schnitzer Prize of the West for his efforts to restore 350 acres of the Bear River in Idaho.

The land is also the site of the Bear River Massacre. Parry's project has focused on removing invasive species, replanting native ones, and freeing the river from decades of damming and channelization.

Smithsonian Magazine recently featured the project and what it means for the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. Read more: https://ow.ly/NIxY50ZvYpH

The Bench Fire has forced community members to evacuate, destroyed homes and structures, and caused widespread damage. T...
07/31/2026

The Bench Fire has forced community members to evacuate, destroyed homes and structures, and caused widespread damage. The road to recovery will be long.

Please support the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs through their official Wildfire Recovery Fund. Every contribution supports immediate needs and helps the community care for its members, rebuild, and restore the land.

🔗 Donate directly: https://tinyurl.com/wildfire-donation

Not able to donate today? Please share this post to help this reach more people.

What does it mean for the public to own lands? This fall, join us for a four-part series exploring the past, present, an...
07/28/2026

What does it mean for the public to own lands?

This fall, join us for a four-part series exploring the past, present, and future of public lands through dialogue, expert perspectives, and a field trip to Harney County.

Free to attend. Dinner included. Space is limited, and we ask that participants commit to all four sessions.

Wednesday, September 9; 5:30 pm-8:30 pm
Monday, September 14; 5:30 pm-8:30 pm
�Wednesday, September 30; 5:30 pm-8:30 pm
Friday, October 16; 8 am-5 pm

Apply by Sunday, August 9
https://www.highdesertmuseum.org/programs/high-desert-project/public-lands/

"Good food, good company, good fun and good writing." — Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen WaterstonSpend four days immersed in ...
07/24/2026

"Good food, good company, good fun and good writing." — Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston

Spend four days immersed in the High Desert, where mornings are filled with field excursions exploring the wildlife, landscapes and history of Summer Lake, afternoons are devoted to inspiring writing workshops led by Ellen Waterston, and evenings bring intentional conversations.

With just 12 participants, Lost in Place offers a rare opportunity to slow down, observe closely, and connect with both the landscape and a small community of fellow writers.

Whether you already write regularly or you're looking for space to reconnect with your creativity, this immersive weekend invites you to experience the High Desert in a new way.

Summer Lake, Oregon
Aug 31- Sep 3
Space is limited

Learn more and reserve your spot: https://tinyurl.com/lost-in-place

Address

59800 S Highway 97
Bend, OR
97702

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+15413824754

Website

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