Cultural Attractions in Oregon

World-renowned museums, music, amazing architecture and more! With Oregon’s Choice Hotels^® you’ll be a stone’s throw away from it all. Take a peek at the cultural attractions the state of Oregon offers.

In the Portland Metro Region

The Grotto
NE 85th and Sandy Boulevard
Portland, OR   97220
503-254-7371

What a unique destination! The Grotto is home to more art than you might imagine could be found in the woods. Here, you’ll find an internationally renowned Catholic sanctuary, nestled among some 62 acres of lush botanical gardens and beautifully sculpted statues, reflection pools and more.

End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
1726 Washington Street
Oregon City, OR   97045
800-424-3002

A fascinating tale is waiting for you at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. The Trail named for this great state culminated in a dramatic sweeping overlook, leaving pioneers in the Western metropolis of Portland. Today, the end of the trail has been commemorated in a monument and has received funding to start its own museum.

In The Coast Region

Astoria Column
1500 Coxcomb Drive
Astoria, OR   97103
503-325-2963

When the Astoria Column was erected in the year of 1926 at the top of Coxcomb Hill, it was to mark the inception of the first permanent American Settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. When visiting this fantastic cultural attraction, you’ll want to allot some time to climbing the 164 steps which spiral along the edge of the column, which towers at a colossal 600 feet.

Coos County Historical Society Museum
1220 Sherman Avenue
North Bend, OR   97459
541-756-6320

Have you wanted to learn about Coos County and its richly historical past? Why not check out the Coos County Historical Society Museum, where the past of this fine county is outlined in fascinating displays which will educate at the same time they entertain. The Society has operated the museum since the year 1958.

In Southern Oregon

Oregon Shakespeare Festival
15 S. Pioneer Street
Ashland, OR   97520
541-482-4331

Experience a world like no other when you step into the entrance of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which was founded in 1935 and has since received a Tony Award for outstanding performance. Each year, the festival presents an eight-and-a-half-month season comprised of eleven plays produced in three theaters, plus numerous ancillary activities.

In the Mt. Hood/The Gorge Region

Baker Cabin and Pioneer Church
Highway 224
Oregon City, OR   97045
503-631-8274

Experience one of the most pristine attractions in Oregon, and at the same time you’ll be able to transport yourself to a time when electricity was a thing of the future and settlers were heading westward in search of a better life. On the same grounds, you’ll find the historic 1895 Pioneer Church, built by German Methodist immigrants.

Barlow Road Tollgate Laurel Hill Chute
Government Camp
Government Camp, OR   97028
888-622-4822

Find yourself in the middle of a little piece of history when you visit Barlow Road Tollgate Laurel Hill Chute, one of the last tollgates to operate on the historic Barlow Road. The Barlow Road was a significant trade route during the pioneer times, and has since been replaced by concrete roads.

In Eastern Oregon

Kam Wah Chung Museum
NW 1st Avenue
John Day, OR   97845
800-551-6949

What is the Kam Wah Chung Museum? Put simply, it’s a destination for anyone who holds an interest in Oregonian history. The structure housing the museum was originally constructed as a trading post on the Dalles Military Road in the middle of the 19th century, but has since been transformed into a museum honoring the legacy of the Chinese workforce in Oregon.

Painted Hills Unit
Kimberly, OR   97848
541-462-3961

Are you fascinated by the geological history which has been so dutifully preserved underneath the bedrock of the earth? Head to Painted Hills Unit, where you’ll experience one of the most geologically thrilling attractions you’ll ever come across. From fossils which have been preserved in the bedrock to hills which get their name from delicately colored stratifications, fans of the earth will delight in this Oregon attraction.

In the Willamette Valley

Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon
1430 Johnson Lane
Eugene, OR   97403
541-346-3027

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is located at the University of Oregon, a respected and venerable institution of higher learning. As such, the galleries you’ll find here beckon you into a vibrant new museum, where galleries feature American, European, Korean and Japanese and Chinese art, all enhanced with a special touch of rarity.

Albany Historic Districts
518 Second Avenue SW
Albany, OR   97321
541-928-0911

Albany is home to four fantastically rich historic districts, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The crown jewel of these districts is perhaps the 1849 Monteith House, which is claimed by many to be the most authentically restored Pioneer Era residence in the state of Oregon.

In Central Oregon

Deschutes Historical Museum
129 NW Idaho Avenue
Bend, OR   97701
541-389-1813

With displays on everything from local and regional history to the theory of evolution, there’s truly something for everyone at this fantastic Oregonian cultural destination. Find yourself in the throes of fascinating displays, and learn a little bit about the land you’ve come to visit.

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
1233 Veterans Street
Warm Springs, OR   97761
541-553-1161

Experience the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The tribes are Native Americans which originated in the Wasco area, and have been known for their fine fishing, trading, and basket-weaving skills. Experience the life of the Confederated Tribes in the town of Warm Springs.

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