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Museums located in Wasco County

Visit these historic places and museums

Wasco County is filled with historic locations, scenic vistas, ghost towns and many other places of interest. Ten thousand years of Native American trade took place in this area, which was a camping location for the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery expedition. It also became a destination point for the pioneers who crossed the Oregon Trail. Here are just a few of the notable sights you will find in Wasco County and within the Mid-Columbia region.

Dufur

Dufur Historical Society Living History Museum
(541) 467-2349 or 541-467-2205
Living history museum located in historic log cabin on Main Street in the Wasco County community of Dufur. Located in the historic Schreiber Log Cabin on Main Street, featuring pioneer living history exhibits, weaving, old photos, farm implements and more. Museum opens late May and operates noon to 4 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays. Information: (541) 467-2349.
dufurhistorical@gorge.net

Mosier

Route 30 - Porsche Vintage Cars
Not quite a museum, but certainly an interesting and fun collection of vintage porche automobiles. In the spring and summer, the ice cream and espresso shop is also open. Mosier, Oregon. Location: Right on Route 30 as you come into town.

Shaniko

Sage Museum
Classic auto and wagon collection located in the historic city of Shaniko in southern Wasco County, once the world's largest inland wool shipping center. Shaniko itself has many historic buildings, including a restored hotel, city hall and jail, schoolhouse, wooden water tower, and surviving portions of the original business district, including old boardwalks. Shaniko is located 57 miles south of Biggs Junction on Highway 97, a few miles north of its junction with Highway 197.

Shaniko & Wamic
http://home.pacifier.com/~shm/Local2/highdesert.html

The Dalles

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Wasco County Historical Museum
5000 Discovery Dr.
The Dalles, OR 97058
Voice: 541-296-8600
Fax: 541-298-8660
Regional interpretive center for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The Discovery Center focuses on natural history and human cultures of the scenic area. The museum traces the history of Wasco County, including both Native American history and pioneer development. Both facilities are open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (541) 296-8600, or check the website at www.gorgediscovery.org. Directions: Interstate 84 to The Dalles, then west on West Second Street (Highway 30) to the Crate's Point access road.

 Fort Dalles Museum
     (Original Surgeon's Quarters at Fort Dalles, 1857) — Oldest historical museum in Oregon, established in 1905 to preserve the legacy of this regionally strategic military base. The ornate, gothic architecture of the wooden "Surgeon's Quarters" is the fort's last surviving building, and houses a variety of pioneer and military displays and artifacts from US Army garrison based in The Dalles in the 1860s.
     Visitors are also able to tour the Anderson House, a homestead built of hand-hewn logs crafted by Swedish immigrants. The Anderson Farmhouse is registered as a National Landmark.
     There's also a large collection of antique vehicles and horse-drawn wagons, including the restored Umatilla House wagon.
      Fort Dalles Museum is located at West 15th Street and Garrison in The Dalles.
      Directions: Follow signs from The Dalles Post Office on West Second Street. Summer Hours: Open every day 10am – 5pm Mid-May through Labor Day. Call for off-season schedule. Please call in advance to schedule group tours, or tours in Spanish. (541) 296-4547.
Website: http://www.historicthedalles.org/fort_dalles/home.htm

Original Wasco County Courthouse (1859)
This wood-frame, two-story building in The Dalles once was the seat of government for the largest county in the United States. Wasco County extended as far as Idaho and Montana. View historical items and artifacts from those early days. Directions: Interstate 84 eastbound: City Center exit to downtown The Dalles, then west on Second Street; turn left just past the chamber, then left on West Second Place. The museum is located at 410 West Second Place. (541) 296-4798.
http://www.wascochs.org/wcch.htm

Rorick House
The oldest home in The Dalles was built by an officer stationed at Fort Dalles in 1850, and operates today as historical museum. Beginning Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Rorick House will welcome guests Fridays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: 300 West 13th St., The Dalles. Public tours.
http://www.wascochs.org

Old St. Peter’s Landmark 1898
P.O. Box 882
3rd & Lincoln Streets
The Dalles, OR 97058
541-296-5686
Email: rooster1898@earthlink.net
http://www.oldstpeterslandmark.org

Former Catholic Church in The Dalles, preserved as historical museum. Gothic Revival Church completed in 1898, the building features Carrera Italian marble, Kilgen pipe organ, 40-foot stamped metal ceilings, six foot rooster on a 176-foot steeple, which is the Gorge's highest spire. Its stained glass windows were created by the Povey Brothers of Portland, and many of these windows memorialize pioneer families. Wooden Madonna was carved from keel of a sailing ship. The landmark has been used as a benchmark for surveyors laying out property lines. The plans were obtained from architect Rinklage of Munster in Westphalia, Germany. On July 25, 1897 the cornerstone was laid. The church was dedicated on St. Patrick's Day March 17, 1898. Third & Lincoln, The Dalles. Hours: 1 to 3 p.m. weekends, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. (541) 296-5686.

Granada Theatre - When it opened in 1929, the Granada Theatre in downtown The Dalles was the first "talkie" west of the Mississippi River. The building operated recently as a non-profit organization, but is currently closed and for sale. Visitors are welcome to view the exterior of this unique building on Second St. It is a historic landmark in the Moorish architectural style.

The Dalles Dam - Not a museum but surely worth a visit. In 1957, the completion of the dam at The Dalles inundated Celilo Falls and Lake Celilo formed behind it. The unique design in the form of a backward L takes advantage of a natural rock formation in the river to connect separate spillway and powerhouse sections. The generating capacity is 1.8 million kilowatts and can light up two cities the size of Portland, OR. The pool behind the dam is called Lake Celilo and it stretches 24 miles upstream to the John Day Dam.

Wamic

Wamic Historical Museum - Smock Prairie Schoolhouse
One-room schoolhouse and museum located in Wamic, on the old Barlow Trail. From The Dalles, drive south to Tygh Valley on Highway 197,then west to Wamic. Located in west-central Wasco County. Open summers only.
http://home.pacifier.com/~shm/Local2/highdesert.html

Regional Museums

Cascade Locks

Take a ride on the Columbia Sternwheeler

Crown Point

Vista House
Old Historic Columbia River Highway
West of Corbett, OR
The crown jewel of the old historic Columbia River Highway, this facility is perched high on the bluffs overlooking the Columbia Gorge and Rooster Rock State Park. Once a waystation for travelers on the old highway (it used to take an entire day to drive the 80 miles from The Dalles to Portland), it now houses a collection of photos and information about the construction of the old highway, and the person who initiated the construction of the highway, Sam Hill. Hill was also the benefactor of Maryhill Museum (see "Maryhill Museum " below.)

Hood River

Hood River County Historical Museum
Port Marina Park (off 1-84 at exit 64)
Hood River, OR 97031
541-386-6772
Email: hrchm@qorge.net
Wide-ranging collection of pioneer tools and artifacts from the early history of this region. Native American, Pioneer, Japanese and other immigrant culture; fruit and logging industries. Port Marina Park in Hood River. Access road at intersection south of Hood River Toll Bridge. Visiting exhibits. Hours: Apr-Oct, Wed-Sat 10am-4pm; Sun 12-4pm. Free. (541) 386-6772.

The International Museum of Carousel Art
304 Oak St.
P.O. Box 797
Hood River 97031
(541) 387-4622

Moro

Sherman County Historical Museum
200 Dewey St.
Moro, OR 97039
(541) 565-3232
Website: www.shermanmuseum.org
Farm machinery, tools, household items, memorabilia from Sherman County’s early settlers. The museum also presents its popular Oregon Trail exhibit, providing an extensive study of the individuals who settled this wide-open plateau country between the Deschutes and John Day rivers. The museum comprises 14,280 square feet and more than 15,000 artifacts used by Native American families, Oregon Trail pioneers, rural households and other historic activities. Hands-on activities include wheat farming, rural living, patriotism, toys, period rooms, Native Americans. From Interstate 84, take Highway 97 south from Biggs Junction to Moro. Watch for directional signs from Highway 97. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, May through October.

Parkdale

Hutson Museum - Adjoins Mt. Hood Railroad stop in Parkdale, Hood River County. Eclectic collection featuring Native American dolls, taxidermy and other displays. Hours vary by season. For details, call (541) 352-6808.

Warm Springs

Museum at Warm Springs
Native American displays, songs, and culture of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs are highlighted in this colorful facility near Kah-Nee-Tah resort. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except major holidays. From The Dalles, follow Hwy. 197 south to Hwy. 97, continue south to Madras and northwest along Hwy. 26 to Warm Springs. From Hood River, follow Highway 35 south to the Highway 26 junction, then head southeast on Highway 26 to Warm Springs. Information: (541) 553-3331.10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Christmas, Thanksgiving & New Year's Day.
2189 Hwy 26, Warm Springs 97761, telephone (541) 553-3331.
Website: http://www.tmaws.org.

Washington State

Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center - Located west of Stevenson, near Skamania Lodge off Washington Highway 14. The interpretive center features a Creation Theatre, 37-foot replica of a 19th Century fishwheel, restored Corliss steam engine, exhibit on Native American dip-netting, Columbia River navigation exhibit. From Interstate 84, take the bridge at Cascade Locks over the Columbia River to Washington Highway 14, then east. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. (800) 991-2338.

Maryhill Museum - Premier art museum of the Columbia Gorge, Maryhill is located 100 miles east of Vancouver on Washington Hwy. 14. Native American and classical artifacts, Romanian royal family heirlooms, chess set collection, and one of the world's largest displays of Rodin sculptures. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 15. Maryhill Museum was built by Sam Hill, and was engineered to last a thousand years. Sam Hill was one of the primary proponents of the old Columbia Gorge Highway 30, and chief among his friends were Romanian Queen Marie, sculptor Auguste Rodin, and dancer Loie Fuller.From Interstate 84: Biggs Junction exit, then north on Hwy. 97 to Washington Hwy. 14, and west three miles. (509) 773-3733 or www.maryhillmuseum.org.

Gorge Heritage Museum - Pioneer history and Native American pre-history of the western Columbia Gorge. Photo displays, post office display, military items. 202 East Humboldt, Bingen. Hours: Thursdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (509) 493-3228.

Klickitat County Museum - Presby Mansion in Goldendale features farm equipment, pioneer furnishings, tools and artifacts, in a classic Victorian home. 127 W. Broadway. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, April 1 through Nov. 1. Open house first Sunday in December 2004. Off-season by appointment. (509) 773-4303.

 

St. Peter's Landmark