{{Short description|Regional museum in Oregon, USA}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox museum | name = High Desert Museum | logo = | logo_upright = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = High Desert Museum, Oregon (2013) - 40.JPG | image_upright = 1.25 | alt = | caption = Museum front entrance | map_type = Oregon#USA | map_relief = | map_size = 280px | map_caption = Location in Oregon | coordinates = {{coord|43.96589|-121.34148}} | established = 1982 | location = Bend postal address, Oregon, U.S.A. | type = Natural history | accreditation = | key_holdings = | collections = | collection_size = Approximately 30,000 artifacts | visitors = 170,000 per year | founder = Donald M. Kerr | director = Dana Whitelaw | chairperson = | website = [http://www.highdesertmuseum.org High Desert Museum] }}
The '''High Desert Museum''' is located near Bend, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1982, it brings regional wildlife, culture, art and natural resources together to promote an understanding of natural and cultural heritage of North America's high desert country. The museum includes indoor and outdoor exhibits of wildlife in natural-like habitats along with traveling exhibits and living history demonstrations. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is also a Smithsonian Affiliate institution.
== History == The museum was founded by Donald M. Kerr, a native of Portland, Oregon.<ref name="HDM1">[http://www.highdesertmuseum.org/about-museum-0/ "About the Museum: Mission, Purpose, History"], High Desert Museum, www.highdesertmuseum.org, Bend, Oregon, 2008.</ref><ref name="EW1">Waterston, Ellen, ''Sagebrush Legacy'', Western Communication, Bend, Oregon, 2002, p. 9.</ref> Kerr had a passion for natural history that inspired the creation of the museum.<ref name="HDM1"/> In 1974, Kerr established the Western Natural History Institute, and the High Desert Museum was an outgrowth of the institute opening in 1982.<ref name="HDM1"/><ref>{{cite journal|last=Boyd|first=Robert|date=September 22, 2003|title=High Desert Museum; Spotlight on Museums|journal=Oregon Historical Quarterly|volume=104|issue=3|page=433|doi=10.1353/ohq.2003.0048 |s2cid=245844333 |issn=0030-4727}}</ref> The museum was originally called the Oregon High Desert Museum; however, the name was later changed to recognize the regional nature of the high desert environment it highlights. Seated on a {{convert|135|acre||adj=pre|abbr=}} site, the museum was at first made up mainly of outdoor exhibits and a small building.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |last1=Loomis |first1=Susan Herrmann |title=Oregon's High Desert On Display |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/19/travel/oregon-s-high-desert-on-display.html |access-date=7 March 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=19 March 1989}}</ref>
In 1989, the main building was expanded with a {{convert|28000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} addition, with the museum's attendance reaching 100,000 per year.<ref name="nyt" /> The $5 million expansion, a gift from the Chiles Foundation, added the Earle A. Chiles Center on the Spirit of the West.<ref>{{cite news|title=In one ear: High Desert Museum addition celebrated|last=Butterworth|first=Beverly|date=June 25, 1989|work=The Oregonian|access-date=2016-12-19|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0EB08593B24A8FA5?p=NewsBank|location=Portland, Oregon}}{{subscription required}}</ref> In 1994, a five-year expansion campaign began to increase the size of the museum.<ref name="expand">{{cite news|title=The Northwest: High Desert Museum starts 5-year, $15 million project|date=December 17, 1994|work=The Oregonian|page=B13}}</ref>
In 1999, the museum was accredited by the American Association of Museums (now the American Alliance of Museums).<ref name="EW1"/><ref>[http://www.aam-us.org/docs/accreditation/list-of-accredited-museums.pdf?sfvrsn=4 List of Accredited Museums.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117023703/http://aam-us.org/docs/accreditation/list-of-accredited-museums.pdf?sfvrsn=4 |date=2013-01-17 }} American Alliance of Museums. Retrieved April 6, 2013.</ref> By 2016, the non-profit museum drew 170,000 visitors per year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Relationships/commitment a marriage of love...and courage|last=Nokes|first=R. Gregory|date=March 17, 2002|work=The Oregonian|page=L01|access-date=2016-12-19|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0F259265F40248A9?p=NewsBank}}{{subscription required}}</ref> In 2017, the High Desert Museum was selected as Smithsonian Affiliate institution. That designation gives the museum access to artifacts from the Smithsonian collection along with Smithsonian sponsored traveling exhibits and education programs. In Oregon there are only three Smithsonian Affiliate institutions. The other two are the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville and the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro.<ref>[https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/5017535-151/high-desert-museum-partners-with-smithsonian "High Desert Museum Partners with Smithsonian"], ''The Bulletin'', Bend, Oregon, 27 January 2017.</ref>
In 2021, the museum was named as a recipient for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imls.gov/our-work/national-medal-museum-and-library-service|title=National Medal for Museum and Library Service|website=www.imls.gov}}</ref>
As of September 14th, 2025, the museum is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://highdesertmuseum.org/press-release-aza-accreditation|title=High Desert Museum Receives Accreditation from Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)|website=www.highdesertmuseum.org}}</ref>
==Facilities== thumb|250px|High Desert Museum lobby and gift shop The High Desert Museum sits on {{convert|135|acre|km2}} of pine covered forest land in Central Oregon.<ref name="OBB">[https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/cultural/science-high-desert.aspx "The High Desert Museum"], Oregon Blue Book, Oregon Secretary of State, Salem, Oregon, 13 October 2008.</ref> South of Bend on U.S. Route 97, the museum includes various indoor and outdoor exhibits, a library, a ''desertarium'', and a cafe.<ref name="trip">{{cite news|title=Museum visit was worth every penny|last=Obery|first=Angela|date=August 14, 2007|work=Statesman Journal|location=Salem, Oregon|page=D1|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/440222193|access-date=2013-09-04}}</ref> Portland's GHA Architects designed the original museum building.<ref name="architect">{{cite news|title=Design Demon|last=Gragg|first=Randy|date=March 17, 1991|work=The Oregonian|page=R1}}</ref> That structure contains slate flooring and walls built from volcanic rocks.<ref name="architect"/> The outdoor exhibits and various buildings are connected by a half-mile long paved path.<ref name="trip"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Travel Idaho & the West: Quick trip - High Desert Museum Bend, Ore.|last=Whaley|first=Susan|date=March 20, 2005|work=The Idaho Statesman|location=Boise, Idaho}}</ref>
The entrance lobby is known as ''Schnitzer Hall''. Visitors passing through the lobby can walk straight ahead into the ''Collins Gallery'' and museum gift shop or proceed to exhibits down corridors to the right or left. To the right of the main lobby is the ''Earle A. Chiles Center on the Spirit of the West'' and separate galleries for special traveling exhibits. To the left of the entrance is the ''Henry J. Casey Hall of Plateau Indians''. The cafeteria is located beyond the Collins Gallery next to the gift shop. There is also a classroom located in this area of the building. Through the Collins Gallery to the left is an indoor desertarium with living desert animals on display. The exit at the far end of the desertarium leads to the ''Donald M Kerr Birds of Prey Center'' and the museum's outdoor exhibits.<ref>''High Desert Museum Visitors Guide and Map'', "Welcome to the Desert", High Desert Museum, Bend, Oregon, 4 September 2013.</ref>
==Collections== The museum has in excess of 18,500 artifacts in its collections.<ref name="western">{{cite news|title=High Desert Museum celebrates Western life|last=Monroe|first=Bill|date=August 12, 1999|work=The Oregonian|page=32|access-date=2016-12-19|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0EB08BA9EA94F79D?p=NewsBank}}{{subscription required}}</ref> Artwork includes works from Edward Curtis, Edward Borein, Charles Marion Russell, Philip Hyde (photographer) and Alfred Jacob Miller among others.<ref name="western"/> Historical artifacts include those of Native American origin and post Euro-American settlement of the region.<ref name="western"/> Many of the Native American items are from the Doris Swayze Bounds Collection of American Indian Art and Artifacts.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Mathews|first=Tom|date=September 30, 1991|title=Livening Up the Past|journal=Newsweek |page=32}}</ref><ref name="expand"/>
===Exhibits=== thumb|right|250px|Vintage U.S. Forest Service fire truckExhibits focus on local culture, natural resources, wildlife, and art.<ref name="tam">{{cite news|title=Former TAM director moves to Oregon museum|last=Ponnekanti|first=Rosemary|date=November 25, 2007|work=The News Tribune|page=E7|url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/2007/11/25/v-printerfriendly/212539_former-tam-director-moves-to-oregon.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707174429/http://www.thenewstribune.com/2007/11/25/v-printerfriendly/212539_former-tam-director-moves-to-oregon.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2013|location=Tacoma, Washington}}</ref> The museum's indoor and outdoor exhibits of Native American, pioneer, and animal life are presented on a massive scale. A visitor can actually walk through an early 1860s town complete with blacksmith shop, Chinese mercantile, and stage coach stop. The Native American exhibit covers life on the land before the white man, life on a reservation, and the present day hot topic of Indian Casinos. There is also an impressive exhibit of Native American horse tack used for the Pendleton Round-Up that is unmatched for its craftsmanship, beauty, and individuality of design.
The High Desert Museum has a {{convert|53000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} main building. Exhibits include a Forest Service [http://www.traditionalmountaineering.org/images/Museum_W087.jpg fire truck], a [http://www.traditionalmountaineering.org/images/Museum_W091.jpg stage coach], and a number of [http://www.traditionalmountaineering.org/images/Museum_W106.jpg Native American history displays]. The museum's Hall of Exploration and Settlement has displays highlighting a hundred years of high desert history. Scenes include a trapper's camp, survey party's camp, pioneer wagon train, a mining claim, an early western boomtown, and a high desert buckaroo camp.<ref name="HDM2">[http://www.highdesertmuseum.org/exhibits/ "Exhibits"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919044522/http://www.highdesertmuseum.org/exhibits/ |date=September 19, 2008 }}, High Desert Museum, www.highdesertmuseum.org, Bend, Oregon, 2008.</ref>
Outside the museum building a quarter-mile trail follows a forest stream lined with aspens and ponderosa pines. Along the way visitors can stop at a number of exhibits and animal habitats.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Emily Cureton |date=November 25, 2023 |title=Baby beaver makes unlikely journey to High Desert Museum in Bend |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2023/11/25/baby-beaver-unlikely-journey-high-desert-museum-bend/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Oregon Public Broadcasting}}</ref> There is a total of {{convert|32000|sqft|m2}} of outdoor exhibits and animal habitats.<ref name="trip"/><ref name="HDM2"/> The popular wildlife exhibits feature three river otters, desert tortoises, a porcupine, and birds of prey. There is also a Native American encampment, a start-of-the-20th-century sawmill, logging equipment, homesteaders cabin, and a forestry pavilion.<ref name="OBB"/><ref name="trip"/>
====Apollo astronaut training==== Between July 6 and November 10, 2019, the museum held an exhibit about how the United States prepared astronauts for lunar landscapes by training in central Oregon, near Bend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Moon Country: Oregon and the Space Race |publisher=High Desert Museum |url=https://highdesertmuseum.org/moon-country/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714015239/https://highdesertmuseum.org/moon-country/ |archive-date=July 14, 2019}}</ref>
===Gallery=== <gallery> File:Elk Statue (Deschutes County, Oregon scenic images) (desDA0020).jpg|Bronze elk sculpture File:High Desert Museum, Oregon (2013) - 02.JPG|Native American exhibit File:High Desert Museum, Oregon (2013) - 13.JPG|Early explorer diorama File:High Desert Museum, Oregon (2013) - 15.JPG|Fur trading post diorama File:High Desert Museum, Oregon (2013) - 16.JPG|Oregon Trail diorama File:High Desert Museum, Oregon (2013) - 07.JPG|Stagecoach display File:High Desert Museum, Oregon (2013) - 27.JPG|Old logging equipment File:Museum Sawmill (Deschutes County, Oregon scenic images) (desDA0018a).jpg|Museum sawmill File:High Desert Museum (Forest Service Guard Station).JPG|Restored guard station File:High Desert Museum (Hawk).JPG|Live hawk exhibit </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == {{Commons category|High Desert Museum}} *{{Oregon Encyclopedia|high_desert_museum|author=Boyd, Bob}} *[http://highdesertmuseum.org High Desert Museum] {{coord|43.96589|-121.34148|region:US_type:landmark|display=title}}
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Category:1982 establishments in Oregon Category:Buildings and structures in Bend, Oregon Category:Culture of Bend, Oregon Category:History museums in Oregon Category:Institutions accredited by the American Alliance of Museums Category:Living museums in Oregon Category:Museums in Deschutes County, Oregon Category:Natural history museums in Oregon Category:Tourist attractions in Bend, Oregon Category:Museums established in 1982