Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum

We had the chance to spend the night at this location thanks to HarvestHost, even though the museum itself was temporarily closed due to the fires. Despite the closure, we took the opportunity to wander the grounds, where many structures and statues remained untouched by the flames. Unfortunately, the surrounding landscape had mostly been scorched, and smoke lingered in the air from fires now burning just across the river. Nevertheless, we were grateful for the experience and it served as a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting our natural spaces and practicing fire safety.

Absolutely delightful!! The staff (Hannah in particular) were so thoughtful and went out of their way to make our visit successful and memorable. We had a great time and loved the ice age exhibit. We even learned some things we didn't already know! They had loaner wheelchairs and the exhibits and pathways were easy to navigate with a chair.

I was very impressed by this museum. It feels very authentic and true to the history of Oregon. It goes really deep in to exploring how people moved to the west and developed industries. We learned a ton and it was a great family experience for everyone. Highly recommend. It’s one of the better if not the best history of Oregon museum I’ve been to.

We visited the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum yesterday, and both my husband and I absolutely loved it! The exhibits are fascinating and beautifully curated, offering a perfect blend of history, nature, and culture. The interactive displays and detailed information kept us engaged the entire time. The staff were incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, which made our visit even more enjoyable. The views of the Gorge from the museum are breathtaking—a perfect backdrop to an already amazing experience. We can’t recommend this place enough!

This museum has a spectacular view😍 not many people know about this place, but it is definitely worth visiting. Many interesting exhibits and historical facts about this area. From the territory of the museum there is an amazing view of the Columbia River gorge👍🏼 Price - 12$.

We were so pleasantly surprised by the displays and information. The staff were lovely and kind. We didn't have time to take the outdoor tour, but look forward to returning and adding that!

I like museums in general, so take my excitement with a grain of salt! This museum was super fun! The sections were mainly dedicated to the PNW and history (geological and human) of the Gorge. I really loved it! These sections covered Ice Age & how it shaped the current day Columbia Gorge, native American history of the Gorge, Lewis and Clark expedition, recreation of little pieces like camera, car, boats, etc. that were once used in this gorgeous Gorge. I easily spent close to two hours here. They also have a kids section which I didn’t really checkout. I loved the small owl enclosure! There are 3 enclosures, but I could see only one owl. The museum gift shop has some interesting trinkets, many of which seem to be made locally. Do checkout the walkways surrounding the center! There are some great views out at the back! There is a fee of 9$ for adults. Also, there is plenty of parking at the center!

This place is amazing! My son is 3 and wasn't at the age of appreciation of the exhibits but he definitely enjoyed running around. We loved the exhibits. But I definitely have a deep appreciation of the staff, especially Tiffany Bates who went above and beyond for me and my family to celebrate my Mother's life! She and all the staff was so helpful to us, and really just amazing to give us such a proper celebration! We will definitely be visiting again on our travels! Thank you definitely rate 10+ ❤️

This museum feels like a hidden gem. Came here on a school field trip and it was an excellent visit. Really nice exhibits about Lewis and Clark, the Oregon Trail, etc, beautiful grounds on a bluff over the Columbia River, and really engaging staff. Would definitely come back again.

Such a wonderful museum, chock full of history about the Gorge and its native people as well as numerous artifacts. I'd absolutely recommend this place, both for young children and people of all ages.

We recently attended the fundraiser for the raptor program. It was a great night of raising money to support the program. We are members of the center, but we honestly attended this event due to one particular employee. We were particularly impressed with Bennett during one recent visit. His knowledge and dedication to the welfare of the birds was very apparent. He spent extra time educating us about the program and specific birds. After speaking with him we felt impelled to attend the fundraiser and help out further. The event seemed a tad slow and disorganized upon entry, but soon enough things got rolling more smoothly. Some raptors were brought out, and again while presenting Bennett demonstrated his care for the animals in making sure their comfort and welfare was being placed before any promised viewings for the night. A hat tip to Bennett for his dedication in particular, and to the center overall for the program and care for animals.

I had set the GPS to the Wasco County Historical Society and it took us to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum. Once inside we learned that the Wasco Museum was contained in the discovery center. I watched the eagles on a monitor before going outside to see the kestrel. We recommend that you take the quarter-mile walk around the museum grounds. The museum exhibits are very well done with a number of videos that explain what you are seeing. The Waco County Museum is very well done too. We spent about 2 hours and could easily spent another hour.

Very informative museum, especially if you want to learn about the local Native American tribes.

My niece and I made a quick visit to the museum as we passed through on a road trip. There were several fun and educational exhibits. It's sort of a small museum but I get overwhelmed in gigantic venues so that's fine with me. I'm glad we stopped for a quick visit.

Fun fun place for both kids and adults. Lots of things for the kids to touch. Lots of short videos to watch. Tons of artifacts.

Lots of interactive displays and exhibits plus sweeping views of the Columbia River. If you are passing through The Dalles, stop and learn about the rich history I'd this city and surrounding area. On certain weekends they have their Raptor experts give a lecture on these magnificent birds and you can see them up close. An owl, too! The building itself is beautiful, a simple wood structure with clean lines, designed to blend in with the natural landscape. The Museum building even won an American Institute of Architects Honor Award. The outside is intentionally designed also with walking trails, a large area with several picnic tables, several scenic overlooks and a small pond. Inside there are many exhibits that provide the history of this area starting with the volcanic eruptions and floods that creating the stunning Columbia River Gorge thousands of years ago. You learn about the unique flora and fauna that continues to dot the landscape. There are exhibits on the original inhabitant, the Indian tribes that lived in this region, including some artifacts. You learn about early explorers who passed through and what life was like in frontier. There are stories about the pioneers that settled in this area with incredible replicas and interesting audio conversations. For years I had never driven past Hood River, thought of The Dalles as a direction, as in you are heading east from Portland towards The Dalles. Im so glad I stopped here and learned about the rich history and now have a much greater appreciation of this entire area. If you are bringing kids, plan on 90 minutes. If weather is nice, have a picnic on the grounds.

It was an amazing end to our Columbia Gorge vacation. The exhibits are exceptionally well done. We arrived on their 25th anniversary and entry was free but we left a donation. Give to the things you want to stay open for future travelers and grandchildren! Learned an enormous amount about Lewis and Clark. Pittsburgh, PA is close to my heart and I was blown away the cargo started from there. You can walk the Columbia Gorge, along the floor, pretty cool. An epic nature trail outside, great river views, an Osprey's nest.... Overall, it's upscale and exceptionally well presented. Furthermore, the staff was well versed and informative.

Beautiful views , breathtaking waterfalls and around every corner something new to explore I highly recommend!

What a gem of a museum! Too bad it's so far from Portland. It's even several miles from The Dalles. Still, definitely worth a visit. We took the grandkids and we all loved it. The other reviews covered some of the exhibits, the demonstrations, the gift shop, and the movies. I wanted to add a "Fun Fact!!" The museum is also an Event Space!! Rent it out for Weddings? Celebration of Life events? They have a kitchen/restaurant space available. Great views! You could even haul a boat full of folks in on a big boat and bus them in from The Dalles. Wild Party!!!

I've passed by this museum a few times traveling along I-84 and finally decided to stop by. It's really two museums in one. One side deals with the geologic history, native peoples and the Oregon Trail. The other side has the history of Wasco County. I found all of the items to be very interesting. Surprisingly to me, I didn't find it to be very crowded mid day on a summer Saturday. One thing was looking forward to which is advertised on the website, was the raptor show. This day, it was lame. We walked the short distance to the eagle enclosure and got to see the two birds through narrow wooden slats. The other raptors are outside and difficult to see (redtail hawk, american kestral, and a great horned owl). As museums go, this one is pretty good. Nice view from the bluff overlooking the river. It's worth a visit.

Excellent museum if you are interested in the history of the Columbia river. Dozens of very interesting displays and historic artifacts. There is even a raptor show if you like birds.

A fantastic museum overall, with several large and well-done exhibits that take you on a trip through time from the ice age to the modern day. A life-size mammoth sculpture, extinct mammals, native exhibits and modern life, an old west main street, the exploration of the West, live raptors, and more, all in a beautiful and modern building. The museum is diminished only by the absolute absence of any mention of Oregon's black peoples' history and almost no mention of its Chinese -- or any other culture than the native and the white explorers / trappers / pioneers.

What a delightful small-space museum! Exhibits are chock full of historical information of this area of the Columbia Gorge and easy to follow. Set up very well done. The geographic history wing is fascinating. Best parts? The live wild raptors and birds that can't be released back into the wild due to various injuries, etc. Was able to view a pair of Bald Eagles up close. Visited in January when season is slow and enjoyed taking my time to wander and explore. Finally, the outdoor, paved walking paths are a great way to experience this beautiful place.

air conditioner not working!it's an oven inside!!! doesn't sound like air conditioner will be working in the near future.

Super great place with a nice shop, and great for events and great walking paths-I love history and love this place, one of my favorite places in The Dalles.

A pleasant surprise to get two museums for the price of one. The Wasco County Historical Museum focuses on this county, while the adjoining Columbia Gorge Discovery Center covers the wider region and takes you back to the Ice Age. The WCHM has a cute representation of frontier life with storefronts from canneries to the rail depot. There is also information on the Barlow Road, although the Sandy Area Historical Museum in Sandy has much more information on this topic. The most interesting fact I discovered was that Wasco County was the largest county in the U.S. (it initially extended to Yellowstone Park) when it was created in 1854. Part of the museum also includes a Kids' Room with project areas and frontier dress up clothes. Certainly an easy way to give your kids a taste of local history, especially when combined with the CGDC.

A neat museum to visit, if you have time to spend! Allow yourself at least 2 hours. Conveniently located off I-84 Exit 82, the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center is the official interpretive center for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, which is divided into the Discovery Center and Wasco County Historical Museum, on each side of the Discovery Gallery in the center lobby. The Discovery Center wing houses interactive displays & exhibits of the Ice Age & it's theories, mammoths, fossils, wildlife, geology, native people, Oregon Trail, Lewis & Clark expedition, and the volcanic upheavals and floods which shaped the Gorge. The Wasco County Historical Museum wing houses displays and exhibits of the history, industry, agriculture, geography and people (past & present) of Wasco County. Exhibits here include the cargo of Lewis & Clark, The Dalles street scene, cannery industry, farming, rail, salmon fishing, missionaries, military, native people, and more. Outside, there's an interpretive trail surrounding the Discovery Center which winds through native vegetation, plants and flowers and nice viewpoints of the Columbia River Gorge. There's also a restaurant on premises as well as the Museum Store which offers interesting products including gifts, history books, maps, souvenirs, Oregon food products, and more. Don't forget to try some taffy! WEBSITE: http://www.gorgediscovery.org

" Great Place to Learn the History of the Columbia Gorge " My wife and I visited the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum in The Dalles, Oregon last week and caught up on the history of the Columbia Gorge. The building is a 48,200 sq. ft. facility, which won an American Institute of Architects Honor Award for its appealing design.The site provides walking trails, a pond, and scenic overlooks. Exhibits focus on the volcanic upheaval and raging floods that created the Gorge, the unique flora and fauna of the region, and eleven thousand years of cultural history. Collections include hundreds of American Indian baskets from throughout the Pacific Northwest, photo archives (partially available on-line), and local genealogical files available in the William G. Dick Library. There are Many historical treasures to see and learn about. Definitely a must see when you are in The Dalles, Oregon.

The raptor program is amazing! They are all rescue birds, and it was interesting learning about their stories as well as natural history. The exhibits are awesome as well! The view is absolutely gorgeous. 11/10 recommend. Don't pass this up!

We ended our trip along the Columbia River Gorge here at the museum, which was the perfect culmination of everything we had experienced or learned about along the Columbia River Gorge route. From our 4-yr old to adult, we all had a great time. Walking into the museum you are struck by how beautifully the foyer has been designed. The exhibits were amazing with so many interactive components. We were even lucky enough to catch a live raptor program while we were there! There is a fee to get in. It is $9 for adults, which is not cheap, but given this is a non-profit and the extent of the exhibits and the whole experience- I feel like it was well worth it. Children under five are free!

The most interesting museum I have ever visited. Lots of interactive exhibits for all ages. Magnificent realistic replicas of our pioneers like the families in covered wagons with audio conversations of the families playing in the background. Displays were interesting and executed in an entertaining way that captured your attention. We had a great time here and learned more about Pacific Northwest history than I ever read in a history book. It is very family friendly with lots of exhibits sized just for children. Definitely fun for all ages.

State of the art dental equipment and a staff that knows what they are doing. I have good teeth and want to keep it that way so I maintain regular visits for cleaning. Would book your next appointment when you leave though, they do fill up.

We drove past this on the way to eat at Cousin's in the Dalles, which was the only reason we went out there. My husband suggested we take the family in after we eat and I wasn't thinking too much about going back. We did, eventually, go when they had about ninety minutes left open. It , wwas just the right amount of time, but if they had been busy, maybe a little more time? They didn't give us a discount on tickets for them being close to closing, like they do at High desert museum in Bend. They do offer a AAA discount, however. It is a very interactive place to take the kids. It has a cafe and a decent little gift shop. There is a room for the kids to go and play with lincoln logs, play dress up, or with a myriad of other toys. The views from the museum are beautiful as well. For 4 adults and 2 kids under the age of 3 it was $32 to get in. I would recommend stopping in for a great history lesson from prehistoric days in the Dalles to the pioneers that settled the area.

I first visited the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center about 12 years ago, when my kids were young. Yesterday, on a return trip to the area, I was excited to bring them there again. We are not disappointed. First, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the kids were free due to Spring Break, so I only had to pay my adult admission ($9) for the three of us to get in. Such a deal! Then, right after we entered, the last eagle tour of the day was beginning - we got to see their two resident Bald Eagles up close and personal. Next we re-entered the museum and were treated to a history of the region from its geologic origins during the Ice Age through its inhabitation by Native Americans (including some amazing examples of basketry), on through Lewis & Clark, the Oregon Trail, and into modern times. The Discovery Center also contains the Wasco County Museum, which is an extremely well-designed history of the area and its rich history as a port, railroad center, etc. They also had a nice activity where the kids could fill out a questionnaire of answers to be found throughout the Center, and they received a prize at the end. I highly recommend the CGDC on a trip through the Gorge.

A hidden jewel in the Columbia River Gorge. Absolutely amazing architecture paired with million dollar views and great interactive displays including an area just for kids to dress up and touch things makes for a great stop to break up that drive along I-84. I was here for a banquet on several accounts where the set up the entrance hall with tables. Makes for a great private event space as well as an educational experience. Plenty of free parking and great walking trails line the grounds. There always seems to be something new to do here every time I visit.

This is a great museum for nerding out on the history and science of the Columbia Gorge! Last year was my first time here. I used the nature-rich riverside trail, where I saw ospreys, lizards, ground squirrels, plenty of flora, and basalt rock formations. I'm not sure how long the trail is, but It seems to be long enough to go running or for a bike ride. And of course, the best part, is the view of the great Columbia River, where Lewis and Clark, along with the Corps of Discovery, made their historic voyage to the Pacific Ocean. But I didn't have an opportunity to go inside the museum. This visit, being my second time, I made it inside the museum. Admission was $9.00. This museum is open everyday from 9am-5pm, NOT 11am-5pm. Upon walking in, I was greeted by one of the friendly and helpful staff members, where I was provided with information to maximize my time here. I was asked if I was interested in raptors, because there was a raptor "show" taking place in the auditorium. Being the bird nerd that I am, I checked it out. Very cool, especially since these were rescued birds: American kestrel, great horned owl, and a red-tailed hawk. I checked out the other exhibits at the museum: the Ice Age, some exhibits on the history of the local American Indian tribes such as the Klickitat (I love the pronunciation!), the Salish, and the Wasco. I wished they were more detailed, though. Other exhibits included Lewis & Clarks' Corps of Discovery, covering more of what they took with them on the journey, and how they lived. This was interesting. Some other exhibits covered the influence of the fur trappers, the geologic activity that formed the Gorge, the evolution of transportation in the area, and some on the importance of conservation of the area. A great deal of the museum covers the history of the Oregon Trail emigrants as well as the history of Wasco County. There was a ten minute video, but I found it to be a bit slow. Definitely should be updated. Overall, I found the museum to be interesting. Definitely worth checking out. Oh, and don't forget to check out the exhibits outside: a few wagons, teepee poles, homestead cabins, and more.

Visiting from San Diego. Disappointing for the rich history. Would have rather seen end of the Oregon trail south or Portland with our limited time.

Passing this on I-84, most might go meh and keep it moving, but I think it's worth a stop in. One side displays some of the animals that were/are native to the region, then goes into Native American wares, Louis and Clark. Second side has more the history of Wasco County, industries. If your like history, you'll appreciate this museum. Grand lodge feel to it, no big bells and whistles. Great view in the main hall.

This place was way better done than I was expecting! It was a little pricy for what you got at $9 but worth doing once. Lots of in depth info about the history of the area, the gorge, the Dalles and the Oregon Trail. A nice little break from all the waterfalls if you're doing the gorge drive, and a great way to learn about the area. Worth doing if you haven't and you're in the area.

Began our Charm Trail here! They are one of three trailheads where you can get your bracelet to start your adventure. Love this place! So much to see! So much to learn. A "must do" experience while visiting or passing through. Great gift shop with fabulous finds! Kind employees, excellent customer service!

What a great museum with plenty of art, knowledge, artifacts and one hell of a understanding of what it took for the pioneers to ford through the Oregon trail travels. The cage was closed so I didn't have a chance to eat; however, taking my time reading and exploring the museum was fun and exciting. The exhibits were well displayed and there was also interactive things to do including a couple of theaters to watch documentaries. I will return.

I am frequently amazed as I visit Oregon Interpretive centers and museums at the zeal and dedication to the states rich history as it relates in the annals of our nations history. The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center is a perfect example of this commitment to excellence. The building is stunning, and perfectly represents the resources of our great state. The employees, (volunteers) are exuberant, helpful and really passionate about their mission. The exibits are beyond interesting, they are captivating. In fact, don't expect to breeze through and be on your way in an hour. The movie "Great Journey West" is absolutely a MUST SEE! Produced by National Geographic and narrated by Jeff Bridges, this reenactment of the entire journey by Lewis and Clark will leave you abuzz. This museum is packed full of goodies and you don't need to be a historian or an intellectual to find it mesmerizing. A nice little cafe, a raptor show, a hands on section for the little ones and outside walking trails round out a very memorable experience. If you are traveling through the Gorge, don't miss this amazing stop. It's 8.00 well spent!

This museum makes me wish that Yelp stars were actually the denominator in a fraction where the numerator equals the number of degrees over or under 75 degrees Fahrenheit. WHAT??? If it were 74 or 76 degrees out, I'd give this a 1/2 -- i.e. half a star. If it were 95 or 65 degrees out, I'd give it a 20/2 -- i.e. 10 stars. In other words, it is a waste of a gorgeous day when you could be outside in the lovely Columbia Gorge, but a pretty good way to spend an hour or two enjoying the benefits of heating/cooling if it is too cold/hot to be outside. It is NOT -- despite what our guidebook said -- a place I'd want to spend the whole day with my kids. My guess is that by the time our guidebook authors got to Hood River, they were really tired of traveling Oregon with their increasingly annoying children, and felt like boring the heck out of them was a nice way to get their revenge. Our kids certainly couldn't squeeze more than a couple of hours of enjoyment out of this place -- and that was including the (just ok) birds of prey show (featuring a lively narrator, but only two birds). We enjoyed dressing them up as Lewis and Clark to get some photos, but the Lewis and Clark exhibit itself was too text-heavy to engage them. Overall, it's a pretty texty museum, though it has some nice life-sized Ye Olde West dioramas that were fun to look at. What the museum really suffers from is its excessively local focus. Everything in the museum -- especially the Wasco history section -- could be used to tell the larger story of American history, including that of the aboriginal Americans who pre-dated European settlers. But at every turn, the explanatory notes focused only on the local relevance and didn't connect the exhibits to the larger story of America -- or for that matter, geological history. If you are a local and want your kids to really know a lot about the area where you live, fab. But if you're a tourist, you are unlikely to find a lot of lasting value in this visit.

We went to this museum on the recommendation of a friend & our kiddos loved it. We enjoyed the exhibit, especially with the scavenger hunts--one with pictures only for younger museum guests & a worded one for older kids. There was also a birds of prey session with a red-tailed hawk and a great horned owl, followed by the opportunity to see the two bald eagles in their habitat, and a small room dedicated to kids with puzzles, coloring pages, and more. The biggest surprise was the newly reopened cafe. It was the best museum cafe food we've eaten and also the friendliest staff. My husband enjoyed his French dip, I loved my BLAT, and our kiddos shared the nachos. We also tasted the potato soup, fries, and cookies, all of which were delicious. The flavor & quality of ingredients far surpassed our expectations. Free soda refills, too. We'll definitely be back to see the museum & plan to schedule that around lunch. The cafe opens at 11.

Truly an awesome experience. We drove up from Portland on a snowy morning worried that it wouldn't be open. In what turned out to be a pleasurable morning they were open and we literally had the museum to ourselves for the 1st 1 1/2 hours. We spent close to 3 hours here wandering through the exhibits and reading the history, listening to the recorded voices and watching the videos that played on. We didn't even get to the see whole show as we needed to leave missing the birds of prey show. And at 6 degrees outside we enjoyed the snow view through the windows, but did not opt to the riverside trail. The museum which is just west of The Dalles (take the 1st exit as you head east on 84) is in a beautiful building with great views and is a stunning piece of architecture. The history that is explained goes from the ice ages up to near present. The displays are done in a way that transports you back in time to be in the ice age or in a cedar plank house or on a stern wheeler. We enjoyed it so much, we will definitely be back!

This would get a higher review if not for the fact that they really need to re-vamp their video / noise balance. Almost every room had some sort of noise in the background, and in some places there were two different videos fighting for your attention. It was awful - I could barely concentrate on reading any of the exhibits. I understand the benefit of having different types of media throughout a museum to engage people in different ways, but the execution here was terrible. They need to relocate some of these videos to enclosed theaters or at least decrease the volumes significantly. That being said, the museum was pretty good. I LOVED the entryway - it was gorgeous, and would be awesome as an event space. There was a great view of the gorge, and the floor had a Columbia River tiled across it. It was really neat. The "cafe" left something to be desired. It looked like their options were soup, and there was no one manning the counter when we walked in (even though the hours posted said they were open). The exhibits were pretty neat. They have a few of those indoor buildings inside to you're not just looking at pictures on the walls. The information is all local, which is to be expected with this type of museum. It was unclear to us driving here, but the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and the Wasco County Museum are pretty much the same thing now even though they have separate signs off of the highway. We spent about an hour here. The entry fee was $9 / adult. There was a small gift shop as well.

This is a great fun day if you have kids with you, and potentially even if you don't, especially if the weather is unpredictable. The only reason not to give five stars is that the cafe is decidedly mediocre. Not bad, but seriously mediocre. I'd highly recommend it, but perhaps pack your own lunch!

This was a lovely place to spend a couple of hours during our trip to the Hood River/the Dalles area. The only negative is the lighting was awful. I couldn't get very good pictures of anything, there were glaring lightbulbs right on top of the displays... it would be 5 stars from me with improved lighting. I'd also love it if they'd consider having an informative exhibit for their raptors/birds of prey rather than having them perform for entertainment (or, infotainment rather). I did not go to see the raptor show.That said I learned some new things and enjoyed the displays while we were there, as well as a walk around the trails surrounding it. Definitely worth the time and fee to get in! Also there are frequent groupons. ;)

My family and I had been here several times and enjoyed ourselves whenever we needed a quick weekend vacation. This time around we had additional children with us since we are now foster parents and things didn't go as expected. When we came in there was a woman at the front desk and she was very dry and unfriendly. I asked her if there were any discounts for foster parents or mothers who homeschool and her response was "nope"....awkward silence... I asked her if there was paper work that needed to be filled out in advance or something and she explained to me that no paper work was involved, I just needed to call a week in advance and in my mind if no paper work needed to be filled out then she chose not to give me the discount. I just went ahead and paid the money which is fine but what got me upset was her demeanor and rude response. I also asked her about the bird show and apparently they no longer have that inside of the auditorium so we were pretty bummed out about that. Next time we visit the Dalles we will definitely go some where else.

My husband and I decided to spend our anniversary in the Columbia Gorge area and visit things we never stopped to see on trips eastward. I have looked forward to visiting for many years and was excited to finally get to visit. I was pleased with the variety in the human and natural history exhibits. Although we were there for 2 1/2 hour,s I could have spent more time just enjoying all the exhibits. The history of The Dalles with the development in the area, the Chinese involvement, the overland and shipping history were covered very well. It was well worth the stop. I could go back again to explore the many trails around the area.

This is a great museum which easily provides the value you pay for admission. The museum includes both natural and human history with an excellent collection of artifacts to highlight various aspects of the history of the PNW. They also have live raptor shows in the mornings and afternoons, which you should definitely include on your visit. If you are exploring the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, this is the perfect compliment to the nature you will experience. Highly recommend this if you are in The Dalles or the surrounding area.

The exhibits are well done but it was really underwhelming and due to an overpowering stench all I could think about was leaving. It smelled like rotting food...no idea what it was other than someone cooking some bad meat. The raptor show, which we made sure to get there in time to watch, consisted of a woman with one owl who was unwilling to interact with the audience.It was as if she were reading a script except for a couple of times when she got a little political about her opinion on an issue. We were looking forward to the Ice Age exhibit as our grandson is very interested in that stuff and expected the raptor show to be more interesting with more than one bird. Best part about our visit was going back outside into the fresh air. We really enjoyed the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center much more.

This is one of the best museums I have ever been to! It is not very big (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), but the attention to detail in the exhibits is amazing! There are tons of interactive exhibits, and with the beautiful artwork and arrangement, they really come to life!

Definitely a place to check out if you like museums and all that jazz. Definitely a place to check out if you love OWLS. Definitely a place to check out if you like playing in the kids play area when it's empty to take full advantage of the costumes and games. Good times. PS. $9 general entry & there's a cafe inside in case you get hungry.

Pretty cool museum if you appreciate Oregon trail history. Not a lot of artifacts but what they do have is quality. Make sure to check out the ice age bear skull compared to the modern black bear (that guy must have been the stuff of nightmares). Definitely worth stopping in if you're trying to dodge traffic.