Steeped in history rich with pioneers, wagons, Native-Americans, railroads and new discoveries, Oregon boasts an extremely large and varied list of museums. From interesting to educational to down-right fun, there's a museum in Oregon for everyone's palate.

When one of those rainy Oregon days has you feeling house bound and ready to head out for some adventure, choose from one of the hundreds of museums that Oregon has to offer. The following list is by no means complete, but only highlights several interesting museums scattered throughout the state.

The Dalles - Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Wasco County Historical Museum

This is the official interpretive center for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Their hope is to "inspire appreciation and stewardship of the natural and cultural history of the Columbia River Gorge and Wasco County." In the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center visitors will find interactive displays of the powerful volcanic events and floods that helped shape the Gorge into its current day form. The Wasco County Historical Museum offers a glimpse into the lives of the people of the county, both yesterday and today. In the Discovery Gallery, the exhibit Cargo: Equipment and Supplies of the Lewis and Clark Expedition is on display. The purpose is to give museum goers a sense of the enormous loads that the Lewis and Clark Expedition took along on their journey. Surprisingly, the most numerous and most planned for items were the gifts for Native Americans which were exchanged along the Expedition's travels.

In addition, this Discovery Center and Historical Museum offer activities and displays like "Archaeology from Space", "Ft. Dalles Architectural Drawings", the Kid's Explorer Room, and the Native Plant Restoration project being undertaken on the 50 acres surrounding the Discovery Center.

Tillamook - The Latimer Quilt and Textile Center

If it's art and crafts that tickle your funny bone, you won't want to miss the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center located in Tillamook. Their mission is to preserve, promote, display and facilitate the creation of and provide education about the textile arts. And, what a great job they do!

The center offers displays and collections of quilts dating from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. Also on display are collections of crochet, handwoven textiles, quilt blocks, quilt templates, hand-woven coverlets, looms, spinning wheels and other equipment used for creating textiles.

In addition to viewing pieces dating from the late 1800's and early 1900's, you can view and sample their textile library with extensive information on all types of textiles. Currently, the center is beginning a collection of indigo dyed pieces.

The hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm. If you have any interest in the history of quilting, weaving and other such textiles, the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center will be an educational and fun museum to visit on your Oregon museum tour.

Barbara Pfieffer
http://www.vacation-in-oregon.com
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Picture: Driving in Oregon