Deschutes Historical Museum and Society

The Early Days of Bend walking tour
2025-08-23 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend, OR
The Early Days of Bend walking tour
Travel back to when the river ran wild, ponderosa pines were plentiful and Bend the Beautiful was a town in the making. Learn about early Bend through the stories of six “Bendites” and how these residents helped transform a young hamlet into a booming town.
Tour begins at the Deschutes Historical Museum and ends at Lone Crow Bungalow on Wall St
May3, 17, & 31, June 21, July 5 & 19, August 2 & 23
Time: 10:30 a.m., approximately 90 minutes
Length: Less than a mile traveling through old neighborhoods and parkways. The sidewalks can be uneven.
Space is limited, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
We recommend the following: comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, bring water.
Tours are led by knowledgeable museum volunteers
Tours are subject to change and cancellation.

Reflections of History: An Architectural walking tour
2025-08-16 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-07-12 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-06-28 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-06-14 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-05-24 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-05-10 10:30 - 12:00 | Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend, OR
Reflections of History: An Architectural Walking Tour
Stroll through the Drake Park Neighborhood Historic District and take a step back in time when walking was the thing to do, and neighborhoods were all about proximity. Participants will be introduced to the architectural styles represented in the neighborhood, hearing stories of a changing community.
Tour begins and ends at the Deschutes Historical Museum.
May 10 & 24, June 14 & 28, July 12 & 26, August 16 & 30
Time: 10:30 a.m., approximately 90 minutes
Length: One (1) mile through historic neighborhood. The sidewalks can be uneven.
Space is limited, RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED
Tours are subject to change and cancellation.
We recommend the following: Comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, bring water.
Tours are led by knowledgeable museum volunteers.

Fourth Annual Antique Fair
2025-08-09 09:00 - 16:00 | Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend, OR
Specially curated by the Deschutes Historical Museum, the Antique Fair features a wide variety of antiques and selected collectibles, as well as music and food.
Admission is free for the fair and the Deschutes Historical Museum.
Interested in being a vendor? Apply today!
2025 DCHS ANTIQUE FAIR VENDOR APPLICATION

A Tribute to Bracero Workers in Central Oregon
2025-08-04 16:00 - 18:30 | Redmond Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond, Oregon, 97756
Join the Latino Community Association, the Deschutes County Historical Society, and the Deschutes Public Library on August 4th at the Redmond Library to celebrate Bracero Program Day and learn how the Bracero Program contributed to the agricultural success of Redmond and Central Oregon. This day honors the contributions to our farming community of the Bracero workers — Mexican men who came to the United States on short-term contracts — and recognizes their sacrifices, hard work, and dedication.
Community members are welcome to come starting at 4 p.m. to explore a bilingual exhibit, to learn about how to support our local Latine community, and to enjoy light appetizers. A short presentation on the Bracero workers who lived at the Redmond Bracero camp, their stories, and their contributions to our Central Oregon community will begin at 5:30 p.m., and will be in English with Spanish translation.
CLICK HERE for more information

The Early Days of Bend walking tour
2025-08-02 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-07-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend, OR
Early Days of Bend walking tour
Travel back to when the river ran wild, ponderosa pines were plentiful and Bend the Beautiful was a town in the making. Learn about early Bend through the stories of six “Bendites” and how these residents helped transform a young hamlet into a booming town.
Tour begins at the Deschutes Historical Museum and ends at Lone Crow Bungalow on Wall St
May3, 17, & 31, June 21, July 5 & 19, August 2 & 23
Time: 10:30 a.m., approximately 90 minutes
Length: Less than a mile traveling through old neighborhoods and parkways. The sidewalks can be uneven.
Space is limited, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
We recommend the following: comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, bring water.
Tours are led by knowledgeable museum volunteers
Tours are subject to change and cancellation.

History Pub: Beatrice Cannady: Oregon’s Advocate for Social Change
2025-07-29 19:00 - 20:00 | McMenamins Old St Francis School, 700 NW Bond St, Bend, Oregon, 97703
Beatrice Morrow CannadyPhoto courtesy of Oregon Historical Society
Beatrice Morrow Cannady was one of Oregon’s most prominent social activists of the early 20th century and a leader within Portland’s early Black community. Through her legal actions, publishing, and social
networks, Cannady challenged hate and injustice across the state and pushed for racial equality.
Mariah Rocker is the public programs and exhibits manager at Oregon Black Pioneers. With a bachelor’s in public relations and sociology, Mariah’s passion for uncovering and sharing the stories of marginalized communities is evident in both her professional and personal pursuits. In her free time, Mariah channels the strength and resilience of historical icons through historical costuming and reenactment.
About Oregon Black Pioneers
Oregon Black Pioneers is the only historical society in Oregon dedicated to preserving and presenting the experiences of African Americans statewide. For more than 30 years, OBP has illuminated seldom-told stories of people of African descent in Oregon through engaging exhibits, public programs, publications, and historical research.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m., presentation at 7:00 p.m.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

The Early Days of Bend walking tour
2025-07-05 10:30 - 12:00 | Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend, OR
The Early Days of Bend walking tour
Travel back to when the river ran wild, ponderosa pines were plentiful and Bend the Beautiful was a town in the making. Learn about early Bend through the stories of six “Bendites” and how these residents helped transform a young hamlet into a booming town.
Tour begins at the Deschutes Historical Museum and ends at Lone Crow Bungalow on Wall St
May 3, 17, & 31, June 21, July 5 & 19, August 2 & 23
Time: 10:30 a.m., approximately 90 minutes
Length: Less than a mile traveling through old neighborhoods and parkways. The sidewalks can be uneven.
Space is limited, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
We recommend the following: comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, bring water.
Tours are led by knowledgeable museum volunteers
Tours are subject to change and cancellation.

Fourth of July Open House
2025-07-04 10:00 - 16:30 | OR
On July 4, 1980, former Oregon governor Victor Atiyeh stood on the front lawn of the newly dedicated county historical museum and declared, “It [Deschutes Historical Museum] will be here, as a reminder of the past, after many of us are gone.” Forty-five years later, we welcome visitors looking to discover the history of the Deschutes Valley and those who came here to live.
Join us as we celebrate the anniversary of the Deschutes Historical Museum’s opening, as well as the 50th anniversary of the Deschutes County Historical Society, with free admission, ice cream, and family-friendly games.

The Early Days of Bend walking tour- FULL
2025-06-21 10:30 - 12:00 | Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend, OR
The Early Days of Bend walking tour- FULL
Travel back to when the river ran wild, ponderosa pines were plentiful and Bend the Beautiful was a town in the making. Learn about early Bend through the stories of six “Bendites” and how these residents helped transform a young hamlet into a booming town.
Tour begins at the Deschutes Historical Museum and ends at Lone Crow Bungalow on Wall St
May3, 17, & 31, June 21, July 5 & 19, August 2 & 23
Time: 10:30 a.m., approximately 90 minutes
Length: Less than a mile traveling through old neighborhoods and parkways. The sidewalks can be uneven.
Space is limited, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
We recommend the following: comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, bring water.
Tours are led by knowledgeable museum volunteers
Tours are subject to change and cancellation.

2025 Oregon Archaeology Road Show
2025-06-07 11:00 - 15:00 | Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend, OR
Celebrate the Archaeology & Heritage of Oregon and Beyond
The 13th annual Archaeology Roadshow focuses on The Archaeology of Art & Craft and features dozens of exhibits and activities hosted by archaeologists and heritage specialists representing universities, tribes, federal and state agencies, companies, and nonprofit organizations.
The Roadshow also invites visitors to bring personal objects (stone tools, pottery, animal bones) they wish to know more about. We’ll have a panel of experts on hand who will help interpret your find. No financial appraisals are given.
This family-friendly event gives visitors of all ages the chance to learn more about Oregon’s past and its connections to us today. It is completely free and open to all.

Early Days of Bend Walking Tour- TOUR IS FULL
2025-05-31 10:30 - 12:00 | Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend, OR

History Pub: Big Red and Other Preservation Tales
2025-05-27 19:00 - 20:00 | McMenamins Old St Francis School, 700 NW Bond St, Bend, Oregon, 97703
Hear the dramatic tale of Bend’s Crane Shed, nicknamed “Big Red,” as well as other stories of historic buildings saved and lost to Bend’s past. What do historic buildings mean to a community, and how can these structures find new roles to remain a vital part of local culture? What factors do successful preservation stories share?
Join Kelly Cannon-Miller, executive director of Deschutes Historical Museum, to learn how to make a difference in the life of a historic building, during National Historic Preservation Month in May.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m., presentation starts at 7:00 p.m.
BUY TICKETS

Early Days of Bend Walking Tour
2025-05-17 10:30 - 12:00 | Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend, OR

Roots of Strength: A Journey Through Black History in Central Oregon
2025-05-15 16:00 - 18:30 | Redmond Public Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond, Oregon, 97756
A family-friendly celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the Bend Colored Men’s Business Club.

The Father’s Group, COCC Afrocentric Program, WeBlack Radio, and Central Oregon Earthseeds invite the community to a free family-friendly, interactive, and educational celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the Bend Colored Men’s Business Club. Participants will immerse themselves in the stories of the founding members of the Club as well as the Black leaders at the helm of early social justice movement organizing –Reverend J.W. Anderson and Beatrice Morrow Cannady– who came from Portland to connect with and support local Central Oregon leadership and educate white folks in the community. We will trace the roots of our local Black community a century ago to the branches of activism and the progress of racial equity that we see in Central Oregon today.
This event is a collaboration between Black leaders from The Father’s Group, COCC Afrocentric Program, WeBlack Radio, and Central Oregon Earthseeds and in partnership with Allyship in Action and the Deschutes County Historical Society, with support from the St. Charles Belonging Grant and the Bend Genealogical Society.
Questions? Contact lizg@deschuteslibrary.org

The Early Days of Bend Walking Tour
2025-05-03 10:30 - 12:00 | Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend, OR
The Early Days of Bend
Travel back to when the river ran wild, Ponderosa pines were plentiful and Bend the Beautiful was a town in the making. Learn about early Bend through the stories of six “Bendites” and how these residents helped transform a young hamlet into a booming town.
Tour begins at the Deschutes Historical Museum and ends at Lone Crow Bungalow on Wall St
May3, 17, & 31, June 21, July 5 & 19, August 2 & 23
Time: 10:30 a.m., approximately 90 minutes
Length: Less than a mile traveling through old neighborhoods and parkways. The sidewalks can be uneven at times.
Space is limited, REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
We recommend the following: comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, bring water.
Tours are led by knowledgeable museum volunteers
Tours are subject to change and cancellation.

Downtown Bend Historic Preservation Month Kick Off
2025-05-02 17:00 - 19:00 | 1000 NW Wall Street Bend Oregon, 1000 NW Wall Street, Bend, OR, 97703, United States
Test your knowledge of Bend’s historic structures with a fun facts and hidden places game and win fun prizes. Learn about historic preservation success stories and strategies. Find us in the lobby of the historic Penney’s building next to Patagonia at 1000 NW Wall Street.

COCC- Celebrating 75 Years of Education
2025-05-02 16:00 - 19:00 | Central Oregon Community College, 2600 NW College Way, Bend, Oregon, 97703
COCC’s Anniversary Party, Celebrating 75 years of Education.
Founded in 1949, Central Oregon Community College- Oregon’s first community college- marks a major milestone this year, celebrating 75 years of higher education, engagement, and enrichment to the region. Join the festivities… historical photos and memorabilia, speakers, and more. And of course, no celebration would be complete without cake.
For more information visit COCC’s 75th Anniversary Celebration

History Pub: Dr. Lillian Gilbreth: Mother of the Modern Kitchen
2025-04-29 19:00 - 20:00 | McMenamins Old St Francis School, 700 NW Bond St, Bend, Oregon, 97703
Dr. Lillian Gilbreth was the first woman elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Best known as the real-life mother of Cheaper by the Dozen, she invented industrial psychology, advanced the occupational opportunities for disabled workers after World War I, and designed the modern-day kitchen, among other groundbreaking achievements.
Therese Oneill, New York Times best-selling author of Unbecoming a Lady, tells the true story of Dr. Gilbreth, one of history’s unsung geniuses, with humor and unique insight.
Tickets required and available here: https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/261990-dr-lillian-gilbreth-mother-of-the-modern-kitchen

Read/Create: A Novel Idea 2025 Exhibit
2025-04-05 - 2025-05-10 | Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend, OR
See this year’s Read/Create exhibit at the Deschutes County Historical Museum. The exhibit, featuring artwork by local quilters, will be on display through May 10. Show your library card for free admission.
Murder by Degrees is a thrillingly atmospheric tale of intrigue, featuring a brilliant female doctor who’s ahead of her time. Set in Philadelphia, 1875, the debut novel by Ritu Mukerji, Dr. Lydia Weston is preparing for the start of a new term at Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, when the body of a young woman is fished out of the Schuylkill River. The death is ruled a suicide, but Lydia is suspicious. As the investigation unfolds, Lydia puts to use all her diagnostic skills and autopsy table acumen to pursue the killer.
The 2025 Novel Idea Youth Edition, The Queen of Ocean Parkway tells the story of eleven-year-old Roya, the superintendent’s kid of a regal Brooklyn apartment building. An aspiring reporter, she just about everything about the building’s residents. It’s a good distraction from the problems in her own life. But when Katya Petrov, one of her favorite tenants, goes missing, it’s up to Roya and a new friend to make her own headlines as she searches for Katya and attempts to break the Petrov curse once and for all.

History Pub: Diamonds in The Desert
2025-03-25 19:00 - 20:00 | McMenamins Old St Francis School, 700 NW Bond St, Bend, Oregon, 97703
At the turn of the 20th century, baseball clubs were organized across Central Oregon, including the city of Bend. Baseball in Bend has continued for over ten decades from town teams to farm teams, semi-professionals to collegiate up-and-comers. Take a step back in time with Vanessa Ivey, DCHS Museum Manager, as she shares stories of an earlier era when baseball wasn’t just a favorite pastime, but a way to build commerce in communities. When the swat of a wood bat rang true whether you were a Bend Beauty or a Bend Elk, and twirling and hurling wasn’t just a county fair ride description.
As Deschutes Historical Museum’s manager for the past fifteen years, Vanessa Ivey is in the best position to research one of her favorite passions: BASEBALL! Growing up in Banks, Oregon she nurtured her love of the game both as a player and a fan. She continued playing ball at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon where she earned a bachelor’s degree in science. These days, she spends her summertime in the outfield on a local softball team, and in January travels to Tampa, Florida playing baseball with the New York Yankees Women’s Fantasy Camp.
Doors open at 6:00pm
Registration Required

Annual Members' Luncheon
2025-03-01 11:30 - 14:00 | Bend Elks Club, 63120 Boyd Acres Rd, Bend, OR, 97701
The 2025 Members’ Luncheon will once again take place at the Elks Lodge in Bend. Doors will open at 11:00 a.m., with a welcome at 11:30. Lunch costs $25 per person, and will be a choice of prime rib or salmon, baked potato, and vegetable. Members are asked to RSVP by February 15 with their preferred protein choice. Registration for the Members’ Luncheon is now closed.

Black History Month Celebration Dinner
2025-02-25 17:00 - 19:30 | Central Oregon Community College, 2600 NW College Way, Bend, Oregon, 97703
“Building a Community of Belonging”
Tuesday, February 25, 5-7:30 PM
COCC Bend Campus, Coats Campus Center, Wille Hall

Come celebrate the richness of African American culture and honor the trailblazers who shaped our world.
An exhibit featuring research findings from Allyship in Action and The Deschutes Historical Museum will be on display.
The Black History Month dinner celebration will include food, educational components, and other cultural activities.
Registration is required for this event. Scan the QR code or email mlegrand2@cocc.edu to register.

Holiday Gelatin Salad Show
2024-12-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Deschutes Historical Museum, 129 NW Idaho Ave., Bend, OR
Does your family have a weird holiday gelatin salad? Let your freak holiday salad SHINE in our
HOLIDAY GELATIN SALAD SHOW
Saturday, December 14
1 pm
Join the Deschutes Historical Museum in a celebration of weird vintage salad recipes.
Enter a salad in one of four different categories:
Best Presentation — Knock our socks off with a molded creation Grandma would be proud of!
Most Savory — Gelatin isn’t just for dessert!
Your Family’s Salad Recipe — Let’s face it, there is always that one salad that has to be at every family holiday. Maybe it’s pink, maybe it’s green. Whatever it is, we need to see it. (Bonus points if you have a family photograph with the salad in it.)
Nailed It! Best Ooops You Tried — Just because you bought the mold doesn’t mean you can get it out of the mold. But we don’t care! You gave it your best.
HOW TO ENTER:
1. Print the entry form to bring with your salad. 2024 Holiday Gelatin Salad Show Entry Form
2. Bring your entry, including recipe used, to the Deschutes Historical Museum on Saturday, December 14 beginning at 12 pm. Registration closes at 1 pm for judging to begin.
3. Judging for each category starts at 1 pm with our celebrity judges. Only judges will be allowed to sample salads at their discretion.
4. There will be one winner and one runner-up selected for each category.
5. Judges will then select a Best in Show winner from the four category winners.
Check-in for salads begins at 12:00, judging at 1 pm.
Salads will not be accepted prior to the day of the event.

Mischievous Creatures: The Forgotten Sisters Who Transformed Early American Science with Catherine McNeur
2024-11-26 19:00 - 20:30 | McMenamins Old St Francis School, 700 NW Bond St, Bend, Oregon, 97703
In her new book, Mischievous Creatures, historian Catherine McNeur uncovers the forgotten lives and work of the sisters Margaretta Hare Morris and Elizabeth Carrington Morris, who were at the center of scientific conversations and debates in the nineteenth century. Margaretta, an entomologist, was famous among her peers and the public for her research on 17-year cicadas and other troublesome insects. Elizabeth, a botanist, was a prolific illustrator and a trusted supplier of specimens to the country’s leading experts. At this talk, McNeur will discuss the research involved in recreating the Morris sisters’ lives and the many ways that they have been erased from the history of science in the centuries since.
Catherine McNeur is the award-winning author of Mischievous Creatures: The Forgotten Sisters Who Transformed Early American Science (Basic Books, 2023) and Taming Manhattan: Environmental Battles in the Antebellum City (Harvard University Press, 2014). She is a Professor of History at Portland State University where she teaches courses on environmental history, public history, and the history of food.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Presentation begins at 7:00 p.m.
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS
A Limited number of tickets will be available at the door.
