- Learn about the early industries of Bend and nearby communities.
- The museum building is a historic school house.
- View fascinating displays of local early American artifacts and Native American artifacts.
- Interesting displays that recreate history, such as an early 1900 classroom.
Overview
If you enjoy history, you will really appreciate the Deschutes County Historical Museum. Located in Bend, the museum was created to provide its visitors an interesting overview of the history of Deschutes County and Bend. The history also includes nearby communities such as Sisters, Lapine, Redmond, La Pine, and a few others. The museum contains a variety of exhibits that recreate history, as well as artifacts from Native Americans and early settlers that once resided in the area.
Location and Directions
The museum is housed in the Reid School, just a few blocks from downtown Bend.
Address: 129 NW Idaho Ave, Bend Oregon. Phone: 541-389-1813.
Hours
The Deschutes County Historical Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fees
General admission is $5 for adults, $2 for youth ages 13 to 17. No fee for children 12 and under.
More Info
The Deschutes County Historical Museum tells the history of the area in exquisite detail. The area itself was settled by early French explorers who called this part of Central Oregon the “Riviere des Chutes” which, translated into English, means “river of falls”.
The museum is housed in one of Bend’s first public school buildings, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Displays include a genuine 1907 Holsman Car, one of the early wood cookstoves, carvings believed to be left by early fur trappers in volcanic rock, and copies of the Bend Bulletin dating clear back to 1917.
