There’s a lot to do outside Maryhill Museum as well. With over 6,000 acres to explore, Maryhill Museum has among the largest grounds of any museum in the world. The area surrounding Maryhill is ripe for exploration – historic sites, hiking trails, wineries and art. Come for the day, or make a weekend of it.
Built as the nation’s first World War I Memorial, a replica of Stonehenge lies at what was the original Maryhill town site. Believing the original in Great Britain was used for sacrifices, Hill constructed the replica in honor of the war dead of Klickitat County. Hill wanted the Memorial to serve as a reminder that “humanity is still being sacrificed to the god of war.” Additonal Information About Stonehenge Memorial.
Nearby, the Klickitat County Veterans Memorial was erected in 1995 to honor those who have died in the service of their country since World War I. The project was a partnership between Maryhill Museum and the Klickitat County Veterans Association.
Memorial Day at Ceremonies at the Klickitat County War Memorial. Photography Lou Marzeles, The Goldendale Sentinel.
The site is also the location of Hill’s historic Maryhill town site, the remains of which can still be seen today. Here Hill planned to establish the heart of his Quaker Farming Community. Several buildings that once existed at the site, including the famous Meadowlark Inn, burned in 1958.
The Memorials are open is open daily 7 am to dusk. Admission is free.
The first macadam-asphalt paved roads in the Pacific Northwest were built by Sam Hill four miles east of Maryhill Museum just off SR14. They are open to the public daily from 7 am to dusk. Admission is free. Loops Road is available for special events. Contact Maryhill Museum of Art for more information.
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Columbia Hills State Park
Petroglyphs & Temani Pesh-wa Trail
The spectacular Columbia Gorge is full of Native American petroglyphs. For petroglyph viewing near Maryhill Museum walk the Temani Pesh-wa Trail at Columbia Hills State Park where pictographs and petroglyphs are on display. No reservations are needed to view the dozens of rock art displays and interpretive panels, which are open daily from April-October. With advance reservations, guided tours to view Tsagaglalal (She Who Watches) run at 10 am every Friday and Saturday between April–October. Tsagaglalal is perhaps the most famous petroglyph in the Pacific Northwest.
More information is available at +1 (509) 767-1159. The park also offers camping, boating, fishing, hiking, and rock climbing activities. There are two boat ramps and a small launch fee. Camping sites are on a first come-first serve basis. The park is located on SR14 at milepost 85 about 12 miles west of Maryhill Museum.
Dalles Mountain Ranch State Park
This park has spectacular views of the Columbia Gorge, with hillsides carpeted in spring wildflowers. It is located just off SR14 at milepost 84, about 13 miles west of Maryhill Museum.
Maryhill State ParkA 99-acre camping park with 4,700 feet of waterfront on the Columbia River in Klickitat County, WA. This is a full-service park with campsites, RV hook-ups, showers, and restrooms. No reservations are taken. There is a daily vehicle fee. For more information phone +1 (509) 773-5007.
The Columbia Gorge is the newest wine-making region in Oregon and Washington, with more than 22 tasting rooms and wineries. There are three wineries just west of Maryhill Museum and one to the east and make a nice stop after for tasting and shopping:
Maryhill Winery is 0.7 miles west on SR14 and has a large tasting room with scenic vistas plus an outdoor amphitheater for concerts.
Cascade Cliffs Winery is 10 miles west on SR14.
Marshal's Winery is 13 miles west just off SR14.
Waving Tree Vineyards is 5 miles east off US 97.
For other wineries visit Columbia Gorge Winegrowers.
For guided winery tours, visit Hood River Tours.
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While in the Columbia Gorge visit these other art venues:
Columbia Art Gallery, Hood River, OR
Golden Art Gallery, Goldendale WA
Gorge Artists Open Studios
The Dalles Art Center, The Dalles, OR
Westwind Gallery, The Dalles and Hood River, OR
White Salmon Glassworks, White Salmon, WA
In addition, selected artists from the Columbia Gorge region are featured at the annual Maryhill Art Festival. See the What's Happening page for more information and the dates for this year.
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Red Flower, Georgette Jones. Oil on panel.
Klickitat County, Washington
Besides Maryhill Museum of Art, Klickitat County is home to three other fascinating museums worth your time to visit.
Presby Mansion and the Klickitat County Historical Society is located at the Presby Mansion in Goldendale, and operates it as a museum. The Presby Mansion was built in 1902, and the Society has filled its 3 floors with furniture, clothing, utensils, and personal effects from the 1880s through the 1930s. The museum has a small research library containing county records, photographs, cemetery burial lists and various publications. The Presby Mansion is located at 127 West Broadway, and is open daily April 1 thru October 31, from 9am - 5pm. Their telephone number is 509-773-4303. Located on the museum grounds is a Carriage House which will be used to exhibit antique farm machinery and a pioneer school house. The School House typifies a turn-of-the-century one-room school.
Gorge Heritage MuseumThe Gorge Heritage Museum is operated by the West Klickitat County Historical Society. Located in former Bingen Congregational Church it is open from late-May thru September. Tours are available by appointment all year. The museum's displays include many items relating to the early history of this area, many on loan from local families. Display-cases showcase pioneer clothing, household implements, logging and farming tools, medical and surgical equipment, historical documents, newspapers, and Native American artifacts and crafts. Displays include a history of the SDS Lumber Company and of nearby Broughton Lumber. Also included is a photographic journey into the construction of near-by Condit Dam on the White Salmon River. The museum is located at 202 E. Humbolt Street in Bingen, Washington.
Lyle Twin Bridges MuseumThe Lyle Twin Bridges Museum, located in a room at the old Elementary School in Lyle, opened in the summer of 2007. The focus of their collection is the Lyle area. The museum is currently open on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. during October and November or call 509-365-0060 to make an appointment to visit at other times. Their collection consists of photographs, newspaper articles, Lyle and Lyle School histories, mementos and other memorabilia.
Columbia Gorge Museums
The Columbia River Gorge had a large number of cultural organizations and museums highlighting the cultural and natural history of the Columbia River Gorge. Highlights by county and state include—
Hood River County, Oregon
Hood River County Museum
Jesse and Winifred Hutson Museum
Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum (WAAAM)
Sherman County, Oregon
Sherman County Historical Museum
Wasco County, Oregon
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
Fort Dalles Museum
Old St. Peter's Landmark Preservation, Inc.
Original Wasco County Courthouse
Wonderworks Children's Museum
Rorick House
Dufur Historical Museum
Skamania County, Washington
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center
Native American Museums
and Cultural Centers in the Region
The Native American communities of the Columbia River Gorge have lived on this land for more than 10,000 years. Their history and cultural is beautifully presented at three nearby tribal museums all within a 2 hour drive of Maryhill Museum of Art.
Yakama Nation Museum and Cultural Heritage Center
Museum at Warm Springs
Tamástslikt Cultural Institute
Other museums may be found at the Oregon Museums Association website where Oregon museums are listed by region or at Gorge History listing museums on both sides of the Columbia River or at A2Z Gorge Info – Museums.
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Columbia River Gorge Visitors Association
The Dalles Chamber of Commerce
Hood River Chamber of Commerce
Adventure Fishing
American Rivers Cruiseline
Columbia Gorge Economic Development Association
Columbia Sternwheeler
Explore the Gorge
Goldendale Chamber of Commerce
Klickitat County
Lewis & Clark 200
Lewis & Clark Trail
Lyle Community
Martin's Gorge Tours
Mount Hood Railroad
Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce
Multnomah Falls Lodge
Portland Marathon Hotel Guide
Vista House
Zoller's Outdoor Odysseys - rafting
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