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The 40 Best Museums in Portland

January 13, 2019 by One-Click Lindsey Leave a Comment

40 Best Museum in Portland

Part of being a tourist is experiencing the rich culture that each city provides. Being able to sink your teeth into something that’s unique to the location you’re visiting makes the experience ten times better! That’s where museums really shine; there are so many museums that are famous for their amazing exhibitions, and you want to make sure that you’re hitting the best of the best! You want to experience the ones that will give you a rich knowledge of your location, and show you the history of the amazing place you’ve stepped into.

That’s where this little list will come in handy. That’s right; we’re giving you a list of the best museums in Portland. These are places that you must see when you stop by and want to truly immerse yourself in the city. From arts to science, history and more, these museums in the Portland area will give you a taste of culture, knowledge, and a curiosity for what we like do and celebrate here in the Northwest. Let’s get started!

1: Pittock Mansion

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Pittock Mansion

The former home of Henry and Georgiana Pittock, Pittock Mansion is a historical sight to behold. With decor from the days of the Oregon trail nestled inside the home they built together, the historical society invites you to tour through the mansion of the man responsible for inventing The Oregonian, a newspaper that’s still in print to this very day!

Designed in a French Renaissance style, the materials used to create this amazing home are—for the most part—regionally local! With sandstone from Washington and the use of Portland firms during the construction, the Pittock Mansion has earned a letter of commendation from the Manufacturers Association of Oregon! Check their touring schedule to see when you can make a visit to this wonderful benchmark of Oregon history.

2: Portland Japanese Garden

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Portland Japanese Garden

Aesthetically pleasing as well as educational, the Portland Japanese Garden prides itself on being a living classroom, and in teaching those who visit the way that nature can affect our everyday lives. With information about the various plants that reside within the garden, as well as the beautiful designs made for construction, the Portland Japanese Garden is easily among the best museums in Portland.

Aside from the beautiful foliage and atmosphere, the Learning Center inside the Cultural Village offers you chances to get intimately involved with Japanese culture. From an art exhibit—entitled Art in the Garden—as well as demonstrations of traditional Japanese ceremonies that you, too, can participate in, the Portland Japanese Garden is a wonderful learning experience.

3: Portland Art Museum

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 Portland Art Museum

A staple of our community is the Portland Art Museum; a place where you can immerse yourself in fine art and let your mind wander on the meaning of what we create, and why we create it. With rotating exhibits in place, as well as stationary ones, the Portland Art Museum is a must-see for anyone visiting the area, and easily among the best museums in Portland.

Currently, there are two running exhibits that run through next year—the first is Modern American Realism. Enjoy a take on what we see the country like in the present time, and see how your mood shifts with each image you take in. Additionally, you can enjoy Poetic Imagination in Japanese Art through January of next year! Step into another culture and see how imagery reflects poetry, and how they collaborate to evoke something within us.

4: Oregon Rail Heritage Center

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Oregon Rail Heritage Center

A place focused on the preservation and public enjoyment of the historic locomotives that reside in Portland, the Oregon Rail Heritage Center offers fun for all ages that involve education on the deep history that Oregon has with the railroad industry, as well as fun opportunities to see these trains for yourself! Easily, it’s one of the best museums in Portland and a must see for anyone and everyone!

Come and take a look at their three historic locomotives—which took decades to restore to their former glory, but are part of just six steam locomotives that still run in the country! With the chance to explore these engines up close as well as visit the exhibit inside to learn more about where these trains come from, this is an opportunity you can’t get anywhere else!

5: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

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Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

An amazing atmosphere with so much to see, do and learn about, it’s easy to see why the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is one of the best museums in Portland. With exhibits that invite people to question what they see, as well as amazing shows to bring us beyond the moon and into the past, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a must-see when visiting the Portland area.

With 5 halls full of over 200 interactive exhibits to explore, there’s plenty to do during your visit to the museum. From reusable energy that allows you to take a virtual trip through Portland, as well as a history on preserving the Earth through practices of Indigenous people and treating our world with kindness, you can learn and have fun while you explore!

6: Portland Children’s Museum

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Portland Children’s Museum

Aimed for children up to 12 years old, the Portland Children’s Museum gives your kids a chance to get interactive with their minds, and to have fun doing it! With a handful of permanent exhibits that encourage creativity, thinking critically, and connecting with nature in a 1.3-acre outdoor playground that gets their blood pumping! Helping kids get the education they need in a way that makes it entertaining and fun is more than enough reason to see why the Portland Children’s Museum is one of the best museums in Portland.

There’s so much to do when you walk inside! With plenty of exhibits for kids to explore, you can rest assured knowing that they’re getting something amazing out of the visit. Give the supermarket exhibit a try, where your child can understand how food relates to our health! Or, maybe the Treehouse Adventure is more their speed, giving them a place to read and get creative quietly and comfortably.

7: Oregon Historical Society

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Entrusted with protecting the vast and rich history of Oregon is the Oregon Historical Society, a wonderful place that prides itself on the well-kept education that spans over years kept inside their walls. From exhibits to platforms and a wonderfully large library that holds the answers to the past, it’s no wonder why the Oregon Historical Society is among the best museums in Portland.

The Oregon Historical Society aims to bridge the gap between the past and the present, and offers plenty of ways for people to research, understand, and immerse themselves in what makes Oregon so unique in America’s history. With rotating exhibits, permanent fixtures, and exhibits you can even visit online, the Oregon Historical Society aims to make their information as accessible as possible!

8: World Forestry Center

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World Forestry Center

Built in 1966, the World Forestry Center was created as a way to make noise around the importance of sustainable forestry! A nonprofit, the World Forestry Center—or WFC for short—aims to help the professional development fields all over the world in using the best techniques to sustain the necessary forestry for our planet, and our well beings. The WFC Museum was created just a few short years after the organization began, and it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best museums in Portland.

A 20,000 square foot museum is home to some of the best exhibits you could think of! While aiming to educate about why trees and forestry are important to the world, and to us as human beings, you can browse through beautiful imagery that allows you to see things like what a forest looks like from a bird’s eyes view, as well as a wet raft ride that immerses you in the atmosphere!

9: Freakybuttrue Peculiarium

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Freakybuttrue Peculiarium

For adults of all things freaky and scary, the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium is the perfect place for you to embrace your spooky side! With a gift shop that’s free to browse and a museum in the back that gives you a tour of frights and terrifying sights, it’s easy to see why this unique attraction is among the best museums in Portland, and why people can’t stop raving about their creepy take on hidden legends and interactive gore-filled haunt fests!

Take a look through the alien autopsy area, where you can see what might reside on the inside of a creature from outer space. Their most talked about exhibit lets you into a coffin and seeing what it’s like to be buried alive, underground and under the weight! Large creatures greet you at the gate, and inside there are even more spooky things to behold. Make sure you check them out, especially with October just around the corner!

10: Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center

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The Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center was created to share the stories of Japanese people in Oregon before, during, and after World War II—specifically, Japanese people of Nikkei descent. The museum entails what life was like, what people could expect back then during one of the biggest wars we’ve faced as a nation, and education on subjects that otherwise would go untouched, easily making it one of the best museums in Portland.

Tours are meant to educate the youth on what it was like back then, with different exhibits that go into who you are as a person, and what makes you identify that way. In addition, the Civil Rights Movement exhibit goes into what it’s like to have those powers stripped away, and what people went through during such a divisive time, where freedom wasn’t given, but earned.

11: Architectural Heritage Center

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Architectural Heritage Center

Dedicated to the preservation of Portland’s historical building and diverse heritage, the Architectural Heritage Center is among the best museums in Portland for its dedication to making sure the history remains well kept in our beloved city! With amazing architectural feats to see all over Portland, we have this amazing center to thank for keeping them intact, and visiting their hub of operations lets you learn all about the advancements we’ve made over the years!

With a rotating series of exhibitions that give you a peek into the past, present, and hopeful future of Portland, the Architectural Heritage Center aims to help educate and promote the idea of a fully functioning and an entirely sustainable city, a big theme for those of us who live in the Northwest.

12: Kidd Toy Museum

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kidds-toy-museum

With a look into the way toys have changed and developed over the years, the Kidd Toy Museum gives you a chance to see what things were like 10, 20, even 30 years ago, and beyond! With new toys being added from the owner’s personal collection, there’s a rich history within the shelves of these outdated—and sometimes horribly offensive—toys, making it one of the most interesting, as well as one of the best museums in Portland.

Take a stroll down the halls and see what your parents, or your grandparents, would be playing with when they were your age. From dolls to banks, to small lockets and more, there’s surely something that you could recognize. Be warned, though—things from the past aren’t always what we want them to be, and there are items that, in the present day, are recognized fully as harmful and offensive. Take caution as you visit the past.

13: The National Hat Museum

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The National Hat Museum

Yes, you read that right—The National Hat Museum, the country’s largest collection of the best, brightest, and well-crafted hats! It’s no question that they’re one of the most worn accessories in the present day, nonetheless in the past, and The National Hat Museum aims to bring you some of the most head-turning styles that have brought us joy and fashion-forward thinking over the years, making it one of the best museums in Portland.

Come and peruse through the best of the best as you take a trip back in time and see just what was in and what was out when it comes to what you should be wearing on your head. Additionally, feel free to see what’s been selected as the Hat of the Month and give it a whirl!

14: Historic Belmont Firehouse

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Historic Belmont Firehouse

Among the many historical things in Portland is the amazing Historic Belmont Firehouse, a place where you can learn about fire safety and what it means to be a firefighter, as well as the importance and significance of the building that you’re learning in! Tours are open for anyone of any age to come in, get interactive, and view the exhibits that teach you all about the firehouse, and the act of being a firefighter, making it one of the best museums in Portland.

With amazing sights to see, like authentic antique equipment used to maintain the station and all that they do over a span of 150 years, the Historic Belmont Firehouse is a sight to see for people of all ages. Enjoy a show in the theater, try your hand at sliding down the fire pole, and get involved with what it means to be a firefighter!

15: Zymoglyphic Museum

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Zymoglyphic Museum

A unique collection of art that shows you the ups, downs, and all-around of the Zymoglyphic region is the Zymoglyphic Museum. The eccentricity that exists within the small walls of this museum—which is located on the second floor of a detached garage—entices us to look at things through another point of view, making it one of the most interesting, and one of the best museums in Portland.

Admission to this tiny treasure is free, and though their hours are limited and are not intended for large touring groups, the curator insists that you call ahead for a private viewing of what they’ve created and what they want to share with the world. So, feel free to come and look—but not touch—some of the best-hidden gems that have been assembled.

16: Vintage TEK Museum

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Vintage TEK Museum

A scientific museum dedicated to commemorating the early history of Tektronix is Vintage TEK Museum! Come and take a look through an important part of creating approximately 300 companies in the “Silicon Forest” of Portland! By encouraging kids of all ages to visit and get involved with technology that changes lives, it’s easy to see why the Vintage TEK Museum is one of the best museums in Portland.

It’s no secret that computer sciences and technology have helped us advance as a society, and this museum helps to bring light onto what exactly it means to be working so closely with this technology and what we can learn from it! Get engaged in robotics, sign up for classes to create and build, and visit yourself to see what you can learn about the past, present, and the hopeful future!

17: Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education

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Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education

An important landmark of remembrance towards one of the biggest global tragedies we’ve ever faced, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education stands proud and tall as it educates the masses on what happened during those awful years under Nazi rule, while also promoting the work and words of amazing artists of Jewish heritage and letting them tell their stories.

Take a journey through Oregon’s past and see what sorts of discrimination people had to fight against, and how their resistance has been met with strong solidarity within the community. Listen to stories from survivors that made their way to the Portland area and Washington, and hear their struggles. Appreciate the work of local Jewish artists and authors and lend your ear to what they have to say at one of the best museums in Portland.

18: Oregon Maritime Museum

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Oregon Maritime Museum

Home of the last steamboat ever built in the United States, the Oregon Maritime Museum aims to educate and provide the public with the knowledge, tools, and resources to understand maritime traditions and how things operated back when these boats were consistently being used around the world!

By helping you hop into the past in hopes that it’ll change the way you engage with the future, it’s easy to see why the Oregon Maritime Museum is one of the best museums in Portland. Come and take a look at the Portland for yourself to see what the only steamboat left looks like! Take a trip inside the newly renovated deck hall, and when you hear the whistle blow, allow yourself to be transported back to a different time!

19: Portland Puppet Museum

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Portland Puppet Museum

For fans of whimsy and the feeling of being a child once more, the Portland Puppet Museum offers to take you down a road that’ll have you feeling like a kid again! Browse through a collection of puppets from all sorts of backgrounds, and allow yourself to get lost in the feeling of carefree notions in one of the best museums in Portland.

After looking through all of the amazing and wonderful creations, try your hand at making your very own puppet! Puppet making classes are readily available on site, allowing you to delve into your own creativity and bring your image to life!

20: Wells Fargo History Museum

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Wells Fargo History Museum

Wells Fargo History Museum

Nestled inside the bank is the Wells Fargo History Museum, a place where you can see how one of the oldest banks in America helped the establishment of Oregon, and Portland, as a place to travel to in order to fulfill the American Dream! With exhibits and activities for people of all ages, it’s easy to see why the Wells Fargo History Museum is one of the best museums in Portland.

Exhibits are divided based on age group, and knowing what you’ll find the most interesting, educational, and the most fun! Send a telegraph on their working machine, view an original Wells Fargo stagecoach and get involved with hands-on banking that sharpens your math skills at the drop of a hat!

21: Traditional Kayak Museum

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Traditional Kayak Museum

The Lincoln Street Kayak and Canoe Museum are founded on the principles of presenting a variety of indigenous watercraft forms in a setting that allows you to not only appreciate the craftsmanship that went into creating one but letting you learn about the process as well! Each creation tells a story with the way it’s been presented and designed, and the symbolism behind what a canoe represents makes us really think about who we are, and what we want to do.

As one of the best museums in Portland, the Lincoln Street Kayak and Canoe Museum aims to show you full-scale replicas of traditional Arctic hunting kayaks, built by Harvey Golden to explore the topic of research while creating something amazingly historic. As one of the few means of travel that remains to be handcrafted as opposed to mass-produced, the amount of care and attention to detail is obvious with the works displayed.

22: The Mark Building

The Mark Building

What was once served as a Masonic Temple is now known as The Mark Building, a wonderful piece of historic significance that was acquired by the Portland Art Museum 26 years ago? Since then, The Mark Building has become a museum of its own, housing new galleries and an expansive library that allows visitors to get lost in the rich culture of Portland, making it one of the best museums in Portland.

Used as a permanent display for the Portland Art Museum’s modern collections, The Mark Building holds value as a beautifully renovated area to appreciate art, and its connection to the main building of the Portland Art Museum makes it a must stop when you’re in the area.

23: Portland Chinatown Museum

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Explore the rich and diverse part of Chinatown in Portland at the Portland Chinatown Museum! With photographs, art displays, and two new exhibitions opening within the coming months that explore the rich history within the Chinatown concept, this amazingly diverse and extremely welcoming look into the modern culture is certainly one of the best museums in Portland.

Two new exhibits are opening up in October and December, allowing you to delve even further into the history of Chinatown! In October, come and see the Descendant Threads exhibition, which celebrates the work of three Asian American artists from the area! In December, revisit the amazing Beyond the Gate: A Tale of Portland’s Historic Chinatowns! What was once a temporary installment has now found its rightful permanent residence in this wonderful museum!

24: Washington County Museum

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Washington County Museum

A museum that instills a sense of pride in who we are and where we come from, the Washington County Museum aims to bring you into the history that comes from living in the Portland area! With an interactive Oregon Trail experience, a Hubble Telescope gallery, and a beautiful Kalapuya exhibit, it’s easy to see why this is one of the best museums in Portland.

With educational exhibits that give you background on the rich agricultural history that lies within the Portland area, the Washington County Museum takes a look at the past to see how we’ve arrived where we are today, a part of the Silicon Forest. If you want to learn more about the place you’re from, this place is a must see!

25: Zimmerman Heritage Farm

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Zimmerman Heritage Farm

A chance to step into the past, the Zimmerman Heritage Farm Museum offers you a chance to get an inside scoop on what it was like during the urbanization of the Northwest region! A house full of amazing artifacts and education, the Zimmerman Heritage Farm remains as a piece of the dairy farmstead that once stretched over 600 acres down the Columbia River! With all it has to offer, it’s easy to see why the Zimmerman Heritage Farm is one of the best museums in Portland.

Stroll through the house and see the legacy of the Zimmerman family and what they left behind to the preservation and historical value when the last of their lineage sadly passed away. Enjoy the views from the outside in the gardens, take a look at the large acre of land that served as the family farm, and immerses yourself in a deep connection to Oregon’s past.

26: Portland Police Museum & Historical Society

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Portland Police Museum & Historical Society

A nonprofit organization that’s been founded by former members of the Portland Police Bureau, the Portland Police Museum & Historical Society serves as a foundation of education of the past of Oregon’s uniformed officers, the Portland Highland Guard, and as a memorial dedicated to fallen heroes who risked their lives for the public’s safety. Their dedication to their cause is admirable, and easily makes this wonderful place one of the best museums in Portland.

With free admission for everyone and anyone, visit and see the past of the Oregon Police force, from their beginnings to where they are now. Enjoy learning about the Portland Police Highland Guard, and understanding their role in today’s society. Get a look at old arrest reports, old jail cells, and old uniforms as you walk back in time.

27: Museum of Contemporary Craft

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Museum of Contemporary Craft

Originated in 1937, the Museum of Contemporary Craft is designed to start a dialogue about the definition and exploration of craft, while allowing people to stroll through exhibits and public programming that gives a new spin on something as historic as the studio craft movement! Full of amazing art and contemporary collections, it’s easy to see why this place is one of the best museums in Portland.

Home to four amazing galleries, the Museum of Contemporary Craft invites you to explore 4,500 hundred square feet of amazing artwork and creations under a place that’s home to some of the best and brightest artists in the Northwest. Make sure you check regularly for their new exhibits and visit whenever you have the chance!

28: Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals

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Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals

Listed as a building of historic significance for its use to stonework and original Oregon woodwork for their main building, the Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals offers you a chance to visit one of the best museums in Portland, as well as in the nation! Come and explore some of the finest rocks and minerals in the Pacific Northwest and delve deep into the history of the Earth with fossils, art, and gemstones from around the world.

With several exhibits that bring you face to face with rocks and minerals (and so much more), enjoy one of the largest collections of crystals in their main hall. Go into the past with some fossil exploration, and see the remains of what used to be. Check out some art, too, that’s been well kept over the passage of time with amazing minerals!

29: Blue Sky Gallery

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Blue Sky Gallery

One of the best venues in the area for art to be cherished and viewed by all, the Blue Sky Gallery sits among the best museums in Portland for their dedication to the preservation of photography, the art of taking photos, and how photography translates even the simplest of messages. With national and international artists showcased in the gallery, there’s plenty to look at and plenty to love when you stop by for a visit.

There are three exhibitions currently running that you can see whenever you stop by that show off the work of amazing artists who tell their stories through the power of photography. Additionally, keep an eye on their calendar for speaker events so you can talk to the artists themselves about the wonderful things they create!

30: Hoyt Arboretum

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Hoyt Arboretum

A museum that houses more than 170 plant families and 2,068 species, the Hoyt Arboretum brings you face to face with nature in its finest form—open, free, and successfully thriving in an environment that allows it to flourish! With a job to protect species that are threatened with extinction, as well as educating the masses about conservation and the importance of taking care of our planet, it’s easy to see why this place is one of the best museums in Portland.

Join their staff for walks through the amazing wilderness that will have you getting up close and personal with some of the best things that nature has to offer while learning about the plants they keep and the things we need to survive as a species. Additionally, join them for classes where you can learn the ins and outs of specific plants and species from certified Arborists!

31: Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum

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Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum

Established as the official interpretive center for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum brings back in time to look at the effects the Ice Age, and the way our environment and infrastructure has since evolved and grown! With access to the Lewis and Clark Oregon Trails and a vast wealth of knowledge about the world, it’s easy to see why this place is one of the best museums in Portland.

Travel back in time with the Ice Age exhibit and the Lewis and Clark Cargo exhibition, which puts you in the middle of two of the most important events in history when it comes to Oregon! Additionally, take in beautifully handmade pieces of Native American culture, with woven baskets and a look into the culture that began the fabric of our country.

32: Pearson Air Museum

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Pearson Air Museum

A place that aims to help connect its visitors to the long-standing history of aviation at Pearson Field, the Pearson Air Museum is founded on the want to educate the masses on what Pearson Field went through, and how it came what it is today. While taking a trip back in time through the golden age of aviation, this museum gives you a chance to learn all about how it became an important Army Air Corps field during World War II, making it one of the best museums in Portland.

Exploring the outside gives you a chance to walk through the amazingly historic Pearson Field through a variety of their self-guided walking tours down various trails. Additionally, get involved in the Lantern Tour Series, which offers you to visit the amazing Vancouver Park at night by the light of a candlelit lantern!

33: High Desert Museum

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High Desert Museum

A place that brings you face to face with nature and all its wildlife, the High Desert Museum is dedicated to the wellbeing of wildlife and living history, getting you in on the action involved with the animals that we share our amazing planet with. With hands-on activities that get you involved with wildlife, it’s easy to see why the High Desert Museum is one of the best museums in Portland.

With a space that’s 135 acres long, and houses 100,000 square feet of exhibition room, there’s plenty for you to do during a trip to this amazing and historical museum! Get face to face with things like otters, owls, falcons, hawks, and more! Explore the rich depths of Native American culture, and immerse yourself through the Spirit of the West with a trip back in time!

34: Oregon Electric Railway Museum

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Oregon Electric Railway Museum

The largest trolley museum in the Pacific Northwest is the Oregon Electric Railway Museum, home to trolleys and electric railway equipment from local areas, as well as around the world! With a focus on equipment from the 1890s through 1977, the staff welcomes you to take a step back in time and see what it was like to ride the rails, easily making this one of the best museums in Portland.

When you purchase an authentic ticket for the trolley, you’re in for the ride of a lifetime! Enjoy a trip on one of their authentic trolleys from around the world, as well as a tour of the car barn filled with authentic antique equipment!

35: Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum

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Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum

Home to one of the largest collections of still-flying antique airplanes and still-driving antique automobiles, the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum gives you a chance to go back in time and see what things were like during the height of the industrial revolution! With over 130 cars to look through, an extensive collection of motorcycles, and incredible planes, it’s easy to see why this is one of the best museums in Portland.

Housed within 3.5 acres of an indoor hangar, come and see the amazing sights that reside within the museum walls! Most, if not all, of the pieces, were donated by founder Terry Brandt, and has been growing and expanding ever since! Along with amazing sights, the kids can enjoy a hands-on exploration center, making it great for people of all ages!

36: Stark’s Vacuum Museum

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Stark’s Vacuum Museum

Mounted on the walls of their downtown showroom, Stark’s Vacuum Museum lets you take a trip down memory lane and discover the invention of the vacuum cleaner! Old models hang proudly on display as you walk through the aisles, and with a new touch after renovations, you can understand and learn about the process of how the vacuum cleaner came to be! It’s distinctly unique and certainly deserves the title of one of the best museums in Portland.

With 300 vacuum cleaners in the collection that were either donated or purchased for display, take a chance and immerse yourself in a history that you may not have even known about beforehand. There’s a timeline of amazing machinery to view, and the progression from then to now is simply astounding!

37: Oswego Heritage Council

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Oswego Heritage Council

The Oswego Heritage Council and Museum is the foundation of a historic resource that brings Native American History and culture to the forefront. By looking through what the Oswego Council has to offer, and understanding more about the Oswego culture, you can educate yourself on an important part of Oregon related history in a beautiful area, making this place one of the best museums in Portland.

As a housing for a resource center that’ll give the community more chances to discover information about Lake Oswego, this hub of culture and historical relevance gives you an option to be part of the action by reading up on what makes Lake Oswego so important, and so significant, when it comes to the history of our area.

38: Interactive Museum of Gaming and Puzzlery

Website

Interactive Museum of Gaming and Puzzlery

The Interactive Museum of Gaming and Puzzlery gives you a chance to collaborate and cooperate on something we all know and love—games! With an expansive collection of puzzles, games, and tabletop magic, this amazingly creative hub for tapping into your critical thinking skills as well as your creativity, making this place one of the best museums in Portland.

The Interactive Museum of Gaming and Puzzlery is currently home to the largest publicly accessible collections in the world, with their total number of items sitting nicely at 7,128! That’s nearly 2,000 more than what they had just about a year ago! Make sure you keep up with their schedule to see when you can hop in on the action and get your game on!

39: Portland Museum of Modern Art

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Portland Museum of Modern Art

With a strong focus on national and international art, the Portland Museum of Modern Art brings their statement to the public in a very accessible and very unique way. Located in the stairwell and basement of the Mississippi Records compound, their space plays perfectly into the art they invest themselves in, certainly making it one of the best museums in Portland.

With information on galleries and exhibits over the past couple of years, and a schedule that’s currently confined to the summer and the early fall, make sure you check out their website to see what kind of art they have to offer and when you can visit next!

40: Museum of Mental Health

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Museum of Mental Health

A private, nonprofit museum located in one of the oldest buildings on the Oregon State Hospital campus is the Museum of Mental Health, where they’re dedicated to telling the stories of the Oregon State Hospital and the people that worked and lived there. With a goal to educate the masses on the people who lived there while debunking stigmas and bringing light to what’s important when it comes to mental health, it’s easy to see why this place is one of the best museums in Portland.

Upon entering, you have given a badge of a person who used to work at or who attended the Oregon State Hospital, and the information about that person can be found once you enter the museum itself. Each exhibit takes you through the history of the hospital, from when it was founded to when the doors were shut. Additionally, you can find memorable shots from One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest at the end, which is a small tribute to the Academy Award-winning movie.

The Best Museums In Portland: Explore and Educate

And… that’s all she wrote! It’s a lot to take in all at once, but having this many options for new and exciting places that’ll bring you a sense of education and fun in one visit makes the Portland museum scene even better! We pride ourselves on a lot of things that make the Northwest so well known—our coffee, our craft beers, and our dedication to a healthy, sustainable lifestyle is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cultural significance, and the best museums in Portland only add to our amazing repertoire of what we have to offer and share with the rest of the world!

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Are you interested in what’s moving and shakin’ in the small business community in Portland? Then this podcast is for you! Our goal with the PDX Small Business Network Podcast is to showcase small businesses in Portland who have full-time business and how and why they’ve found their success. But it’s more than that: it’s also about what’s new and exciting in the PDX small business community.
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