A Museum and an Old School

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

As we drove through Bend toward Redmond on Saturday, we noticed the sign for the High Desert Museum and Ron remarked that it seemed a strange name for a museum in this part of the country; however, this part of Oregon really is high desert and reminds me very much of the area east of Albuquerque near Edgewood and Moriarty.

Today we return to Bend stopping first at the Visitor Center for more information about what to see and a recommendation for a place for dinner later in the day.  Bend is located on the eastern edge of the Cascade Mountains and along the Deschutes River.   Here the climate goes from Ponderosa pines to the high desert with junipers, sagebrush and bitter brush.  It began in the early 1900s starting as a logging town but is now a gateway to many outdoor sports, summer and winter.

We drive around town for a bit stumbling on this Park located along the river.  Here there is a small falls and people kayaking down the rapids and just generally enjoying the outdoors.  All along the river we saw people rafting, swimming and just enjoying being outside.

We also take a drive around town looking for old homes.  Since the town began in the early part of 1900’s they are  not as old as many we have seen elsewhere in our travels and  most are surrounded by lots of trees making it just about impossible to take pictures.  Homes have wood sidings and colors tend to make them blend with the trees and surroundings.   Many are built on the side of the hills.

Driving further south we arrive at the High Desert Museum which opened in 1982 and tells the stories of diverse people and places through changing exhibitions and permanent ones.  It sits on 135 acres and includes multiple galleries, winding paths and an expansive pine forest.

It includes both indoor and outdoor exhibits, wildlife in natural-like habitats and living history demonstrations which help children to understand life in another time including playing games of the time. Outdoors are a number of beautiful sculptures adorning the grounds.

After parking the car, we walk along a forested path with small critter scampering about as we near

the building where we walk around inside observing some of the  displays which include this horny lizard, Gila monster, turtle and owl and an old Model T and Forest Service Truck.

From here we proceed outside to the otter exhibit but are disappointed that the otters are not playing in the water exhibit so walk on among the trees to the display of buildings depicting life in the late 1900’s

with docents in costume to answer questions and explain what times were like.  One is a doctor who truly stays in character and shows me a display of various products used to ease pain in that time including Paregoric, Laudanum, among others.  

Homestead House

Small Cabin

Root Cellar and Food Storage

In the barn is a teacher who is visiting the farm from the school five miles down the road.  She is teaching several children on her one day at the farm.  Again very in character.

Teacher with classroom in barn

Further on is a sawmill and a couple of large items used in logging as well as information about logging here. 

Sawmill

Further down the path is the Birds of Prey display with several displays of birds for us to observe.

Back inside the main building we walk through several displays.  One is the story of the area from the times of the Indians, emigrants coming to the area, trappers, miners and the development of a city.

Another room is a display about World War II and how it affected this area.  Both exhibits are very well done and very interesting.  A nice place to spend several hours.

Returning to downtown we drive along the Old Mill District which is where many of the old logging buildings were located but today are shops and restaurants.  The Visitor Center recommended we check out the old St. Francis School which today is a Brew Pub and Hotel among other things.

Recognize the guy in the far back of the picture?

This old parochial school was open from 1936 until 2000 when the school moved to another location in town.  It was purchased by a local buyer and made into a small hotel with 41 rooms, brewery, theater and spa.  It is a pleasant afternoon and the front patio outside is shaded with many trees so we decide to sit outdoors to enjoy our dinner.   We share a unique turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with a filling of fresh turkey, tomato, lettuce, a savory cranberry relish and a secret sauce which has among other things a hint of horseradish, fresh cut fries and topped off with a delicious dessert of raspberry cobbler with a cake like crust and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.  All this is washed down with a glass of brewery beer for Ron and a glass of wine for me.  Yummy!  Yummy!

A nice day with great weather and about 13 (Ron counted them) large rain drops which fall on our car.