As I wrote last week, three generations of my family recently spent five days in the Central Oregon resort community of Sunriver, located about 10 miles south of Bend. We were fortunate that our home base for the week sat only 5 miles from the High Desert Museum,

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a wonderful facility which provides great insight into the animals, geology, history and indigenous cultures of this immense region in the Western United States. It encompasses much of Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon; all of Idaho and most of Nevada and Utah; as well as portions of California, Wyoming and Montana.

The museum, established in 1982, covers 135 acres of pine forest, streams and meadows and includes over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space within the main museum buildings. Galleries there hold visiting exhibits, such as Sensing Sasquatch, which features works by five Native artists depicting how different cultures view this “non-human other;” and Near, Far, Gone featuring artwork from a private family collection showcasing the complex relationships between humans, nature and the environment. Other galleries house permanent exhibits, such as the Desertarium, housing High Desert residents such as reptiles, fish, birds and amphibians; and Spirit of the West, a walk through history and a look at the many peoples who called and call the High Desert home.

There was so much here that entertained the 10-, 7- and 4-year-olds in our group, starting before we even left the parking lot. Life-size statues of local fauna such as elk,

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deer

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and beavers

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dot the landscape; and a clear, rushing stream bordering the entrance plaza held trout fingerlings the kids spotted darting through the water.   Inside, the wide, high-ceilinged galleries bathed in natural light beckon visitors to explore, with some windows opening onto exhibits featuring bobcats  and porcupines.

Dioramas offered detailed recreations of early boats   and temporary shelters made by the native peoples from tules (large reeds that grow thickly in the lakes in the region) and larger teepees constructed of tules  and canvas.   Next came the camps of fur trappers and covered wagons,  a settler’s cabin

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and the storefronts of Silver City, a mining town.   We admired intricately decorated ceremonial dresses as well as the tools and fixtures of everyday life and checked out a complete, original stagecoach  before we stepped outside to take in the outdoor exhibits.

There we passed through the Birds of Prey center, comparing the size of raptors from falcons to condors before confronting some majestic live bald eagles. The kids enjoyed visiting a barn and schoolhouse, circa 1904, in the section of the property representing a turn-of-the-century ranch, before checking out the 1904 Lazinka Sawmill which still operates on occasion today.

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We wrapped up our visit with a docent talk at the Otter Exhibit, where three rambunctious river otters frolicked on land  and in the water (with underwater viewing galleries as well) and proved highly entertaining.

We really enjoyed our visit to the museum, and I could have easily spent much more time there. We noted some nice amenities for visitors including EV charging stations, shaded kennels for visitors’ pets (who aren’t permitted in the museum or on the grounds), a café, gift shop and picnic area. The museum also offers resources and accommodations for visitors with sensory processing needs as well as those facing mobility challenges.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor