10 Specialty Museums in Oregon That You Shouldn't Miss

The WAAAM Air & Auto Museum has one of the largest collections of still-flying antique aeroplanes and still-driving antique automobiles in the country. The items on display at this museum are not only full of history, they're full of LIFE! Enjoy over three-and-a-half acres of indoor exhibit space.

Founded in 2004, the Historic Carousel and Museum is creating a world class carousel complex in downtown Albany that will draw visitors from around the world and contribute to the economic revitalization of historic downtown Albany. Our permanent home is completed. We opened our doors to our wonderful carousel on August 15th, 2017. Visit us and you can watch our carvers and painters at work, and enjoy browsing our gift shop. Our facility offers rooms for birthday and party rentals. Fully handicap accessible. Call us today to schedule a tour. Carousel rides are $2.00 a ride. Tours and admission is free.

We are a non-profit community art project who's mission is to build and exhibit aesthetically powerful art to educate a global audience about plastic pollution in oceans and waterways and spark positive changes in consumer habits.

A one-of-kind photo adventure with a vintage Seaside theme! All props are upside down (inverted) and hung from the ceiling, allowing for a fun interactive photo opportunity! Use your smartphone or ours, with the help of our staff take the best, fun pose in the scene of your choice, then invert it and you're now upside down!

The Columbia River Maritime Museum tells the dramatic and inspiring stories of a mighty river, a vast ocean, and the generations of people who have made their living plying the waters of the region. The Museum is home to the largest collection of maritime artifacts in the Pacific Northwest (over 20,000 pieces in all), as well as a 19,000+ volume research library and more than 30,000 photographs. In addition to permanent and rotating exhibits, the campus includes a lightship, 3D movie theater, gift shop and the Barbey Maritime Center. Classes, workshops, demonstrations, lectures and other educational programs are offered regularly.

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is a nationally-renowned science center providing science learning to a range of audiences. Our programming is guided by OMSI’s long-term vision to promote a healthy, innovative, and sustainable society where everyone is prepared to participate in civic life. OMSI’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programming helps visitors and program participants master 21st century skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration. We achieve this through exhibits, classes, camps, traveling educators, and adult programs around the state, making OMSI a trusted educational resource to all Oregonians.

Gilbert House Children's Museum (formerly known as A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village) is a private nonprofit children's museum connected to downtown Salem's Riverfront Park. Founded in 1989, Gilbert House provides innovative and stimulating educational experiences which spark children's natural curiosity. The Museum's mission is to "inspire children to learn through creative play." This is accomplished through fun and challenging exhibits, camps, birthday parties, membership opportunities and outreach programs in the sciences, arts, and humanities. The Museum is composed of three historic houses; the Rockenfield House, Gilbert House and Parrish House.

One of the oldest art museums on the west coast with an impressive collection of Native American and Asian art, plus a large modern and contemporary wing. Rotating special exhibitions bring the best of the art world to Portland.