Looking for the best museums in Portland, Oregon? This lifelong local has you covered.
I’ve had the pleasure of calling the City of Roses home for 30+ years. In that time, I’ve visited almost all the museums in Portland. From first dates to play dates with my niece, I’ve done it all. I thought it’d be helpful to roundup some of the best museums in Portland for those planning a visit.
As longtime readers of this site know well, I’m not one for small talk. So let’s get to the good stuff!
10 Best Museums in Portland, Oregon
(Click here for the table of contents)
Visiting Portland for the first time? Check out my list of the 25+ Best Things to Do in Portland (+5 Tourist Traps to Avoid). Likewise, this is my favorite hotel in town (it’s the one I recommend to my own family and friends).
The Oregon Historical Society
Started in 1898 in an effort to preserve the “state’s collective memory,” the Oregon Historical Society has a well-curated collection of artifacts dating back to the Oregon Trail. This underrated Portland museum has been showcasing Oregon’s history for more than 118 years.
The museum’s biggest draw? The 1845 penny used to decide Portland’s name in a coin toss. That’s right, naming our city boiled down to a coin toss. The founders of Portland, Oregon were two settlers from New England. One from Boston, Massachusetts and the other from Portland, Maine
Both settlers wanted to name the city after their respective home towns and settled for a coin toss. And that’s how Portland, Oregon got its name (yes, really).
The best part? The museum is free for Multnomah County residents. If you’re not a resident, admission is $14 and worth every penny (some pun intended). See the official website here.
Pittock Mansion
Anyone searching for the best museums in Portland would be mistaken to overlook the Pittock Mansion. Built between 1912 and 1914, this stunning French Renaissance mansion sits atop the West Hills and spans 16,000 square feet.
Featuring 46 elaborate rooms, the home is open to the public for self-guided tours. The tours are really cool because you can see the original furniture and learn more about the family that called it home.
Commissioned by the Editor of the Oregonian, Henry Pittock, no expense was spared in building this masterpiece. The house was built so well that even the original elevator is operational to this day.
Pittock Mansion is one of the best museums in Portland for kids to explore. It’s fun to play “I Spy” with the kids while secretly adding up the exorbitant expenses of things you’re pointing to.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
The Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI) is a Portland museum staple. Most lifelong locals have memories of spending drizzly weekends at OMSI or visiting during field trips. It’s a great place to get your fill of fascinating science exhibits spread across five themed halls.
Anyone searching for the best museums in Portland for families, will find plenty to do at OMSI. There’s so many interesting exhibits that are bound to keep everyone in the family entertained. Kid free? Sign up for the fun OMSI After Dark experiences.
OMSI After Dark is a 21+ event that takes place the last Wednesdays of the month. Local vendors, scientists and artisans host creative science-themed workshops. Visitors can get drinks, watch shows and test the limits of their knowledge on various topics.
What’s more, all the permanent exhibits are open during the event, which means you can explore at your heart’s content. Learn more here.
The Portland Art Museum
Founded in 1892, the Portland Art Museum is the oldest art museum on the west coast, reason alone to visit. Home to more than 42,000 pieces, the permanent collection will keep you occupied for several visits (not to mention the great rotating exhibits).
The musuem is best known for its extensive collection of Native American, European, Asian and American art. This Portland museum doesn’t feel overwhelming like most art museums I’ve visited before.
Oregon Maritime Museum
Most of us know someone that loves the sea. I swear my own 94-year-old grandad is brushing up for a nautical test when he reaches the pearly gates. The breadth of his knowledge surpasses understanding, so I knew he would consider this one of the best museums in Portland when he visited last spring.
For starters, the Oregon Maritime Museum is located inside of the last operating steam-powered sternwheeler in the country, the Portland. Moored along the Willamette River, you can tour the engine room and pilot house to learn more about the vessel.
Tours are led by impassioned volunteers, eager to share their knowledge of maritime artifacts and memorabilia. It’s always fun to get a tour alongside a history nut or military enthusiast because banter is bound to ensue.
World Forestry Center Discovery Museum
The World Forestry Center is a non-profit founded in 1964 that seeks to educate the public about forests through interactive exhibits. Focusing on Northwest forests, you’ll get a chance to learn about the way forests impact our daily lives.
The exhibits span the gamut. From re-evaluating our perspective on wild fires to addressing the detrimental effects of climate change, you’re bound to learn something new.
Considering Oregonians are big advocates for environmental causes, it’s no wonder why the World Forestry Center is considered one of the best museums in Portland, Oregon. To book tickets, see the official website here.
Oregon Rail Heritage Center
The Oregon Rail and Heritage Center houses three steam locomotives owned by the City of Portland. Two of the locomotives are fully operable and one of them, Southern Pacific 4449, is considered one of the most beautiful locomotives in the world.
You can see this gem for yourself by popping in for a visit. This Portland musuem protects and maintains steam locomotives and occasionally takes visitors on trips through Portland’s Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge.
Admission to this musuem is free but donations are accepted. All told, you don’t have to be a railroad enthusiast to see why this is considered one of the best museums in Portland.
Fun Fact: The 4449 Daylight is the second most photographed steam locomotive in the world. Second only to Thomas the Train.
Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals
Located in the neighboring city of Hillsboro, the Rice Museum of Rocks & Minerals features an impressive collection of rare rocks, fascinating fossils, meteorites and gemstones. It’s one of the best museums in Portland for geological wonders.
In terms of the collection, the Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals is recognized for having one of the finest rock collections in the Pacific Northwest.
If the collection isn’t enough to entice you to visit this underrated Portland musuem, it might help to learn that the building itself is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its unique architecture and natural stonework.
Best Museums Portland | To learn more about the Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals (or to book your tickets) visit the official website here.
Freakbuttrue Pecularium
This has to be one of the hardest Portland museums to describe. Part-art show, part-gift shop, part-exhibit of oddities and 100% “what the hell am I looking at?” Featuring creepy and strange exhibits, gags, edible insects and strange books, there’s no denying that the Freakbuttrue Pecularium is the weirdest musuem in Portland.
The museum is the brainchild of Portland adventurer Conrad Talmadge Elwood, who spent his life traveling the world in search of odd objects. He decided to share his treasures with the world by establishing this Portland museum in 1967.
For the measly admission price of $10 you won’t want to miss it. Well, unless you have kids in tow, this is definitely not the best musuem for kids in Portland due to some of the art and novelties.
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
Admittedly, the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is located in McMinnville, but the one-hour drive from Portland shouldn’t deter you. Heck, make it the starting point of your next Oregon coast road trip!
The musuem was founded by Captain Michael King Smith, a former US Air Force fighter-jet pilot. Along with his father, Delford Smith, the pair opened the musuem in 1991 with a small (but impressive) collection of vintage aircraft.
Within one year of opening, the musuem won a bid to acquire the coveted Hughes H-4 Hercules, shocking established aviation museums across the nation.
Which begs the question, how’d they pull it off? The duo committed to make the monolithic plane the museum’s centerpiece. Today, the exhibit includes more than 50 aircraft and spacecraft.
You couldn’t miss the musuem if you tried. The building is marked by a mounted Boeing 747, making this one of the most unique museums in Portland’s metro area. It’s one of my (personal) favorite museums near Portland and my go-to destination with out-of-town visitors. I think you’ll love it as well!
Best Museums Portland | To learn more about the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum (or to book your tickets) visit the official website here.
Best Portland, Oregon Museums (Post Overview)
In sum, here’s a quick roundup of the best museums in Portland, Oregon.
- Oregon Historical Society
- Pittock Mansion
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
- The Portland Art Museum
- Oregon Maritime Museum
- World Forestry Center Discovery Museum
- Oregon Rail Heritage Center
- Rice Northwest Museum
- Freakbuttrue Pecularium
- Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
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Map of the best museums in Portland
I hope you enjoyed this roundup of the best museums in Portland, Oregon for kids and adults alike. Portland has several gems to choose from, but the ones on this list are some of my personal favorites. If you have the time, I highly (highly!) recommend making the trip to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. It’s unforgettable!
Cheers!
Antonina
It was so cool