Bend, OR

Just what is the High Desert in which we live? People might confuse the term desert with the arid and hot descriptions of unending sand, maybe a few cactus and little wildlife. Well we do have our arid moments, our cacti are in the form a many different varieties of trees, flora and fauna and animals, we have our share and they are abundant. The question I might ask at this point, “Is where would one go to view it all at once?” The High Desert Museum of course!

You can play with the otter without even touching him as these are curious and playful creatures who lives a life of sleep, eat and play. Otherwise, they are bored. Watch the owls watching every move you make. How about a lynx, the eyes that will stare you down, the porcupine that is really friendly despite what we are told about it throwing quills. You want to see what kind of fish we catch in the water bodies around here? Ever tangled with a badger? Snakes, lizards, and my not so favorite: spiders. So many more animals live here.

High Desert even offers contest to name a new animal when one comes in. How proud a person might feel in having the name they choose picked as the name for a wildlife animal? You can also adopt animals.

Maybe you’re more into history.

High Desert offers a full and rich deal of history, some of it living like the “Old timer” who watches over his stagecoach at the front door. The millworkers, miners, horse handlers…these are all part of the living history here at the museum. Each has their own stories of how life was “back in the day.” Or maybe the early period automobile in pristine condition. I know I want to drive it home. Maybe you want to know more about the history of our area or the West with its’ Cowboys and Indians.

Everything at High Desert melds itself together to form a complete cultural visit and the evolvement of assimilation of how everything was then, compared to the amalgamation of now. The changing and the desperately holding onto of the traditions of the different cultures and even the how and why’s of these drastic culture and environmental changes have taken place. Coming to the High Desert Museum is a reminder to me as well that we used to live in simpler times.

During your visit, make sure to stop in at the Silver Stage Trading Post and the Rimrock Café for your gifts and eats.

There is a lot more information and exhibits in which I am now out of room for so please, take a look at their website and plan your next field trip.

Located on Hwy 97, just a few miles south of Bend, when you see their sign, be sure to pull in.