Highest-rated museums in Oregon by visitors
Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.
Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums . America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history,.
Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.
No wonder they attract nearly.
With over in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in Oregon on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.
#30. Icefire Glassworks
- Rating: 4.7/5 (140 reviews)
- City: Cannon Beach
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#29. Scienceworks Hands-on Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (180 reviews)
- City: Ashland
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#28. Seaside Inverted Experience
- Rating: 4.7/5 (86 reviews)
- City: Seaside
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#27. Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals
- Rating: 4.7/5 (189 reviews)
- City: Hillsboro
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#26. Ripley's Believe It or Not!
- Rating: 3.4/5 (314 reviews)
- City: Newport
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#25. Hopscotch Portland
- Rating: 4.3/5 (21 reviews)
- City: Portland
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#24. Gilbert House Children's Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (189 reviews)
- City: Salem
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#23. Freakybuttrue Peculiarium
- Rating: 3.8/5 (103 reviews)
- City: Portland
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#22. Klamath County Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (170 reviews)
- City: Klamath Falls
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#21. Prehistoric
- Rating: 4.5/5 (319 reviews)
- City: Lincoln City
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#20. The Albany Historic Carousel and Museum
- Rating: 4.8/5 (257 reviews)
- City: Albany
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#19. Alderhouse Glass Blowers
- Rating: 4.8/5 (131 reviews)
- City: Lincoln City
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#18. Oregon Rail Heritage Center
- Rating: 4.5/5 (138 reviews)
- City: Portland
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#17. The Glass Forge
- Rating: 4.9/5 (300 reviews)
- City: Grants Pass
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#16. Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (428 reviews)
- City: The Dalles
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#15. Oregon Observatory at Sunriver
- Rating: 4.7/5 (218 reviews)
- City: Sunriver Central
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#14. Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum
- Rating: 4.9/5 (438 reviews)
- City: Hood River
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#13. Camp 18 Logging Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (344 reviews)
- City: Seaside
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#12. Tillamook Air Museum
- Rating: 4.0/5 (602 reviews)
- City: Tillamook
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#11. Hatfield Marine Science Center
- Rating: 4.6/5 (708 reviews)
- City: Newport
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#10. Oregon Historical Society
- Rating: 4.4/5 (472 reviews)
- City: Portland
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#9. National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
- Rating: 4.8/5 (622 reviews)
- City: Baker City
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#8. Flavel House Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (601 reviews)
- City: Astoria
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#7. Lincoln City Glass Center
- Rating: 4.8/5 (561 reviews)
- City: Lincoln City
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#6. Studio West Glassblowing
- Rating: 5.0/5 (237 reviews)
- City: Eugene
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#5. Columbia River Maritime Museum
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,853 reviews)
- City: Astoria
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#4. Portland Art Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,183 reviews)
- City: Portland
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#3. Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,607 reviews)
- City: McMinnville
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#2. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,678 reviews)
- City: Portland
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#1. High Desert Museum
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,997 reviews)
- City: Bend Central
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.