In 1683, Elias Ashmole, an Oxford graduate and true polymath, founded the Ashmolean, the modern world’s first public museum. Stocked with his private collection of artifacts, curios, and special scientific equipment, the goal of the museum was to create a center for practical research and the advancement of knowledge. This, Ashmole felt, was a goal “very necessary to humaine life, health [and] the conveniences thereof.”
According to figures from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, there are more than 35,000 museums in the United States today. Their collections encompass everything from modern art, like at the MoMA in New York City, to mustard, like at the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin, and everything in between.
Museums are anchors of our communities. The American Alliance of Museums reports that museums support more than 725,000 jobs and contribute upwards of $50 billion to the U.S. economy each year. Three-quarters of Americans agree that museums are an important part of our civil society and have an important role in promoting knowledge and civic engagement.
Beyond their educational and economic significance, museums are just plain fun. Whether you have a developed interest in natural history or just want to learn a little bit more about funerary history (the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston), there’s sure to be a museum that strikes your interest. There’s simply nothing else quite like spending an afternoon learning about famous figures, arts and crafts, military history, or what else you fancy.
Here, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated specialty museums in Oregon on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 13, 2025. Keep reading to see what unique museums are in your home state. Then, make sure to plan a visit. With many museums facing funding cuts due to the current administration’s efforts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services, who’s to say how much longer these treasure troves will be available to us?
#30. Baldwin Hotel Museum
– Rating: 4.6/5 (54 reviews)
– City: Klamath Falls
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum
– Rating: 4.9/5 (86 reviews)
– City: Cave Junction
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Train Mountain Railroad Museum
– Rating: 4.7/5 (46 reviews)
– City: Chiloquin
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Washed Ashore Gallery & Workshop
– Rating: 4.7/5 (102 reviews)
– City: Bandon
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Oregon Film Museum
– Rating: 3.3/5 (405 reviews)
– City: Astoria
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. World Forestry Center – Discovery Museum
– Rating: 4.1/5 (114 reviews)
– City: Portland
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Willamette Heritage Center
– Rating: 4.5/5 (106 reviews)
– City: Salem
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
– Rating: 4.0/5 (203 reviews)
– City: not available
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Whale, Sea Life and Shark Museum
– Rating: 4.4/5 (153 reviews)
– City: Depoe Bay
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Petersen Rock Garden and Museum
– Rating: 3.5/5 (156 reviews)
– City: Redmond Central
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. North American Bigfoot Center
– Rating: 4.9/5 (28 reviews)
– City: Boring Clackamas County
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. Oregon State Hospital – Museum of Mental Health
– Rating: 4.4/5 (78 reviews)
– City: Salem
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. Museum of Natural and Cultural History
– Rating: 4.7/5 (97 reviews)
– City: Eugene
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Umpqua River Lighthouse, Museum,and Gift shop
– Rating: 4.5/5 (234 reviews)
– City: Winchester Bay
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals
– Rating: 4.7/5 (190 reviews)
– City: Hillsboro
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Scienceworks Hands-on Museum
– Rating: 4.4/5 (180 reviews)
– City: Ashland
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Seaside Inverted Experience
– Rating: 4.7/5 (86 reviews)
– City: Seaside
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
– Rating: 3.4/5 (314 reviews)
– City: Newport
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Gilbert House Children’s Museum
– Rating: 4.6/5 (189 reviews)
– City: Salem
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Freakybuttrue Peculiarium
– Rating: 3.8/5 (103 reviews)
– City: Portland
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. The Albany Historic Carousel and Museum
– Rating: 4.8/5 (257 reviews)
– City: Albany
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum
– Rating: 4.6/5 (428 reviews)
– City: The Dalles
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum
– Rating: 4.9/5 (438 reviews)
– City: Hood River
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Tillamook Air Museum
– Rating: 4.0/5 (602 reviews)
– City: Tillamook
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Flavel House Museum
– Rating: 4.5/5 (601 reviews)
– City: Astoria
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Columbia River Maritime Museum
– Rating: 4.7/5 (1,853 reviews)
– City: Astoria
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Portland Art Museum
– Rating: 4.4/5 (1,183 reviews)
– City: Portland
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
– Rating: 4.7/5 (1,607 reviews)
– City: McMinnville
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. High Desert Museum
– Rating: 4.7/5 (1,997 reviews)
– City: Bend Central
– Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
– Rating: 4.3/5 (1,678 reviews)
– City: Portland
– Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
Stacker
Stacker is a news organization that produces and distributes data journalism to the world’s news organizations. Founded in 2017, Stacker combines data analysis with rich editorial context, drawing on authoritative sources and subject matter experts to drive storytelling. This article has been republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.