Museums
Downtown Portland Attractions
End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
Oregon City is an easy drive from Portland, and the Interpretive Center, with its covered-wagon-style buildings, is worth the journey. The Center is especially great for kids since it has costumed interpreters and plenty of things to see and touch. Theaters present videos of the journey west, and exhibits provide details of pioneers, Black families in the West, and the coming of the railroad. A craft workshop offers visitors hands-on activities, and the summer months bring a host of special events. If you need souvenirs or other gifts, the museum store will set you up right.
1726 Washington St
Oregon City, OR 97045-1058
503-657-9336
http://www.oregonmuseums.org/sectionindex.asp?sectionid=121
23 minutes; 19 miles
Hat Museum
Visit this hat haven, a fun little museum that’s the perfect pick-me-up. It’s located in the historic Ladd-Reingold House, and in it you’ll find a large collection of toppers, including antique and vintage hats, men’s hats, novelty and costume hats and modern hats. From large-brimmed straw hats to simple net veils, the hats here all have stories of their own, and it’s up to you to imagine them. The gift shop offers plenty of hat paraphernalia as well as costume jewelry and, of course, hats. The museum is open year-round, but you must first call ahead for a time slot.
1928 SE Ladd Ave
Portland, OR 97214-4737
503-232-0433
http://www.thehatmuseum.com/
6 minutes; 2 miles
Museum of Contemporary Craft
Created in 1937 and originally known as the Oregon Ceramic Studio, and then the Contemporary Crafts Gallery, this museum is one of the oldest establishments for nonprofit crafts in America. The museum is located in a busy shopping district and provides a central hub for the creative community to connect and socialize, allowing plenty of space for educational and community programs too. Changing and permanent exhibits feature emerging and mid-career artists, both regional and international.
724 NW Davis St
Portland, OR 97209
http://www.museumofcontemporarycraft.org/
503-223-2654
4 minutes; less than 1 mile
Oregon Historical Society Museum
History buffs and novices alike will enjoy a visit to this informative museum that tells the tale of the hearty pioneers that settled the Oregon Territory in the mid 19th century. Located downtown, the museum houses approximately 85,000 artifacts, photos, books, map and videotape as well as a research library that relates Oregon’s history from early days until present.
1200 SW Park Ave
Portland, OR 97205
503-222-1741
http://www.ohs.org/
4 minutes; less than 1 mile
Oregon Jewish Museum
The Oregon Jewish Museum is the only Jewish museum in the Pacific Northwest, and it serves as a repository for materials for the entire region. The collection has grown swiftly and includes interesting items such as Jewish head coverings, silverwork and photographs. A research library and extensive oral history collection are also available to the public.
1953 NW Kearney Street
Portland, OR 97209
503-226-3600
http://www.ojm.org/
3 minutes; less than 1 mile
Oregon Maritime Museum
For a real taste of maritime travel and commerce in years past, you’ll want to visit this intriguing museum. Its exhibits feature navigation instruments, model ships, photographs, memorabilia and artifacts from actual vessels. Exhibits are housed on the steam-powered sternwheeler “Portland” moored in the river. The museum is located on the river in Tom McCall Waterfront Park in front of the Battleship Oregon Memorial.
SW Pine St
Portland, OR 97204
503-224-7724
http://www.oregonmaritimemuseum.org/
1 minute; less than mile
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Hands-on exhibits where one can explore the science of robotics, weather, satellites, the human body, and more. Interactive laboratories. Science playground for children six and under. IMAX films.
1945 SE Water Ave.
Portland, OR 97214
503-797-4000
http://www.omsi.edu/
6 minutes; 1 mile
Portland Art Museum
This museum, founded in the 1890s, sits along a quiet stretch of green called the Park Blocks. It’s the oldest arts institution in the area and houses permanent collections that include Northwest Coastal Indian art, Chinese artifacts and European and Classical art. You’ll also find contemporary American artwork, an outdoor sculpture garden, and space for presentations and seminars. In addition to its long-term collections, the museum also features a wealth of traveling exhibits.
1219 SW Park Ave
Portland, OR 97205-2486
503-226-2811
http://www.pam.org/
5 minutes; less than 1 mile
Portland Children’s Museum
Where imagination lives! Hands-on exhibits, Water Works, Dig Pit, Grasshopper Grocery & Butterfly Bistro, Clay Studio and live performances. For kids 10 and under – and their families. This interactive museum seeks to stimulate children’s interest in the natural world and in society. Exhibits foster an understanding of such concepts as sound, gravity and medicine by promoting experimentation and fun. Kids can toy with light and shadow, manipulate water-powered machinery, play dress-up, and work on art projects too. A grocery store and cafe provide them the opportunity to experience the world of adults and expand their boundaries even further.
4015 SW Canyon Rd
Portland, OR 97221
503-223-6500
http://www.portlandcm.org/
9 minutes; 3 miles
World Forestry Center
This impressive museum, styled like a contemporary lodge, educates visitors on forests around the world. The role of woodlands in nature and in human life is detailed, and old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest and rainforests of the tropics serve as prominent examples. Ecology, wildlife and conservation are all addressed, and a giant, artificial Douglas fir serves as a talking guide for visitors. Special exhibits are displayed regularly, and a gift shop sells relevant merchandise.
4033 SW Canyon Rd
Portland, OR 97221-2798
503-228-1367
http://www.worldforestry.org/
9 minutes; 3 miles
