Dave Killen/The Oregonian

By Jamie Hale | The Oregonian, OregonLive

A museum can serve a lot of functions in a community. It can hold onto history, celebrate local culture, display interesting artifacts or – sometimes – do all three, and more, at once.



Whether it's a museum of science, art or vintage airplanes, museums are unique in their ability to show past, present and future simultaneously. They're spaces for education – above all else – but exactly what a visitor learns can vary widely from place to place.



An exhibit on Native American art can teach us a lot about a beautiful, but severely disenfranchised community. A display of vintage spacecraft can show us the scope of human ingenuity. A natural history museum can teach the wonders of nature hiding all around us.



In Oregon, local museums aren't always just places for education, they're often spaces for local communities to gather, to explore, to enjoy. They remind us of who we are, where we've come from and hint at where we might be headed. There are a lot of different kinds of museums around the state, but I've sorted through them to highlight the very best we have to offer.



As always, these rankings are highly subjective. To determine the "best" museums, I considered size, breadth, uniqueness and how much each acts as a community gathering place. Please take the following with a grain of salt.



Don't Edit

Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian

20. Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum

With a big collection of still-flying antique airplanes, as well as a sizable collection of still-driving antique automobiles, the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River is a veritable time capsule of old-fashioned transportation.



Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; admission $16 for adults; 1600 Air Museum Road, Hood River; waaamuseum.org



Don't Edit

Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian

19. Oregon Jewish Museum

Last summer, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education expanded into a new home in Northwest Portland, where it hosts three core exhibits – Oregon-centric examinations of Jewish history, discrimination and the holocaust – in addition to rotating seasonal exhibits.



Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fri., noon to 5 p.m. Sat. and Sun.; admission $8 for adults, 724 N.W. Davis St., Portland; ojmche.org

Don't Edit

Josh Ward/Flickr

18. Eugene Science Center

Originally founded in 1961 as a branch of OMSI, the Eugene Science Center (formerly the Eugene Science Factory), strives to engage kids in scientific exploration and curiosity. The museum features rotating exhibits, a planetarium and a seriously cool-looking building.



Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tues.-Sun.; admission $5 @ 2300 Leo Harris Parkway, Eugene; eugenesciencecenter.org



Don't Edit

Torsten Kjellstrand/The Oregonian

17. Oregon Rail Heritage Center

You can't tell the story of the American West without trains. And thanks to the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, there is a whole museum dedicated to the preservation and display of historic steam locomotives, railroad equipment and artifacts.



Open 1 to 5 p.m. Thurs. and Fri., noon to 5 p.m. Sat. and Sun.; free admission; 2250 S.E. Water Ave., Portland; orhf.org



Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

16. Baker Heritage Museum

There are local history museums in dozens of small towns around Oregon, but none are quite as expansive, or tell quite as fascinating a tale as the Baker Heritage Museum in Baker City. Set up in a former natatorium, the sprawling building contains artifacts from the town's original gold miners, Chinese immigrants and original businesses. It also houses one of the best collections of rocks and fossils in Oregon.



Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, from March 17 to October 27; admission $7 for adults; 2480 Grove St., Baker City; bakerheritagemuseum.com

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

15. Historic Carousel and Museum

While the museum segment of Albany's new Historic Carousel and Museum didn't turn out to be as expansive as planned, the replacement might be even better: an active workshop of modern carousel design, where visitors can watch volunteers hand carve and paint dozens of new animals for their historic carousel.



Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wed.-Fri. and Sun., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat.; free entry, $2 per carousel ride; 503 First Ave. West, Albany; albanycarousel.com

Don't Edit

Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian

14. Erickson Aircraft Collection

Started by Jack Erickson in 1983, the Erickson Aircraft Collection is an impressive assemblage of vintage aircraft, many of which are still in flying condition. In 2014, Erickson opened a permanent facility at the Madras Airport to show off the planes to the public.



Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tues.-Sun.; admission $9 for adults; 2408 N.W. Berg Drive, Madras; ericksoncollection.com

Don't Edit

Oregonian File Photo

13. Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals

You can find interesting rocks just about anywhere in Oregon, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a better collection than the one at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro. The museum building itself is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, noted for its architecture, as well as natural stone and woodwork.



Open 1 to 5 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. and Sun.; admission $12 for adults; 26385 N.W. Groveland Drive, Hillsboro; ricenorthwestmuseum.org

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

12. Portland Children's Museum

Unlike museums geared toward kids and adults both, the Portland Children's Museum focuses all its efforts on crafting fun, educational and interactive exhibits for the little ones. Instead of bringing in flashy exhibitors, the museum prefers to build their own exhibits that encourage problem solving and play.



Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; admission $10.75; 4015 S.W. Canyon Road, Portland; portlandcm.org

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

John M. Vincent/The Oregonian

11. Tamastslikt Cultural Institute

The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute highlights thousands of years of indigenous history and culture, hosting interactive exhibits, art and events that celebrate the traditions of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tribes. The museum opened in 1998 near the Wildhorse Resort and Casino in northeast Oregon.



Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; admission $10 for adults; 47106 Wildhorse Blvd., Pendleton; tamastslikt.org

Don't Edit

Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian

10. Columbia River Maritime Museum

Perched on the waterfront near the mouth of the Columbia River in Astoria, the Columbia River Maritime Museum was established in 1962 to preserve the rich maritime culture of the region. With ships on display outside, and historic and science-minded exhibits inside, the museum offers an immersive experience.



Open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; admission $14 for adults; 1792 Marine Drive, Astoria; crmm.org

Don't Edit

Steven Pavlov/Wikimedia Commons

9. Columbia Gorge Discovery Center

Set in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge near The Dalles, the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center is a trip through time, exploring the Ice Age floods that carved the gorge, the tribes that lived there, and the white settlers who came later. Exhibits teach the delicate balancing act between natural and human interests at work in the area.



Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; admission $9 for adults, 5000 Discovery Drive, The Dalles; gorgediscovery.org

Don't Edit

AP Photo/The Bulletin, Andy Tullis

8. High Desert Museum

A gem in central Oregon, the High Desert Museum outside Bend blends art, history and nature in an experience they describe as "where wild meets west." From LGBT stories in the Wild West to Natural History Pub talks, the museum is a great public resource on the dry side of the Cascades.



Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, from April 1 to Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Nov. 1 to March 1; admission $12 to $15 for adults; 59800 U.S. 97, Bend; highdesertmuseum.org

Don't Edit

Jamie Francis/The Oregonian

7. Kam Wah Chung and Co.

Technically a state heritage site managed by Oregon State Parks, Kam Wah Chung and Co. is an exceptional example of neglected history turned into a museum. First built as a Chinese trading post in the 1870s, the building served as a doctor's office, trading post and religious center, but was abandoned in 1952. In the 1960s, the parks department bought the building and the artifacts it still contained, restoring it all for the public.



Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, from May 1 to Oct. 31; free; Ing-Hay Way, John Day; oregonstateparks.org

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

6. Portland Art Museum

The biggest and best art museum in Oregon, the Portland Art Museum is a must-visit for local art lovers. Rotating exhibits highlight everything from classical and modern art to the stop-motion puppets made by local animation studio Laika. The museum tends to aim for a diverse set of experiences, offering something for everyone on its downtown Portland campus.



Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tues.-Wed. and Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri.; admission $19.99 for adults; 1219 S.W. Park Ave., Portland; portlandartmuseum.org

Don't Edit

Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

5. Museum of Mental Health

The old Oregon State Hospital building was once home to 3,600 patients, where doctors were active in the now-condemned practices of electroshock therapy, lobotomies and eugenics. Much of the hospital was torn down, but the remaining structure now houses the Museum of Mental Health, which sheds light on the outdated practices – and the patients who suffered because of them.



Open noon to 4 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; admission $5 for adults; 2600 Center St. N.E., Salem; oshmuseum.org

Don't Edit

Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

4. Oregon Historical Society

Looking to bone up on state history? You won't find anywhere better than the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, where exhibits offer local history and localized takes on national and international history. Showing everything from World War II artifacts to original Nike running shoes, the historical society seems to find new ways to tell the Oregon story.



Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon.-Sat., noon to 5 p.m. Sun.; admission $11 for adults (free for Multnomah County residents); 1200 S.W. Park Ave., Portland; ohs.org

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

3. Oregon Trail Interpretive Center

While the Oregon Trail is often romanticized, the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City makes it a point to show the true pain and misery of the experience. Outside you can see original wagon ruts, and inside you can see and hear a distraught mannequin mourning the death of her child.



Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; admission $5 to $8 for adults; 22267 OR-86, Baker City; blm.gov

Don't Edit

Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian

2. Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum

Evergreen's sprawling campus east of McMinnville includes a full air museum, full space museum, an aviation-themed water park, movie theater, vineyard and events center. While the museum has changed ownership recently, and lost a pair of planes from its collection, its big draws – including the beloved Spruce Goose – are still holding down the fort.



Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; admission $27 for adults; 500 N.E. Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville; evergreenmuseum.org

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Mark Graves/The Oregonian

1. OMSI

Delighting kids and adults for generations, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – that's OMSI to you – is hands down the best museum in the state. Set up on the Willamette River in downtown Portland, the museum manages to appeal to visitors of all ages with exhibits like LEGO-themed "The Art of the Brick," long-running planetarium shows and the permanently-docked Blueback submarine. It's a place that's perfectly suitable for both families and young adults – a balancing act few museums manage, but at which OMSI excels.



Open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tues.-Sun.; admission varies, from $6.75 to $14.50; 1945 S.E. Water Ave., Portland; omsi.edu

Don't Edit

Honorable mention

Bear Hotel, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Mount Angel Abbey Museum, Portland Police Museum, ScienceWorks Museum, Tillamook Air Museum, University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Vacuum Cleaner Museum, World Forestry Center.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Brittany Greeson/The Oregonian

NORTHWEST TRAVEL GUIDES

50 best events in Oregon: Want to go to an authentic rodeo? Commune with fairies? Ride your bike naked through Portland? We've got you covered.

Oregon state history hikes: In honor of Oregon's birthday, here are 14 hikes around the state that illuminate different aspects of our heritage.

Winter on the Oregon coast: From storm watching to clam chowder, here are 30 reasons to love the Oregon coast in the winter.



Don't Edit

--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

Don't Edit