Museums in Oregon | Top Cultural Activities in Central Oregon

Wilson Ranches Retreat sign and old ford truck

With plenty of cultural activities and museums in Oregon, there are many great ways to celebrate the heritage of the John Day River Territory! Visit museums with exhibits that tell the story of ancient fossil beds and display Native American artifacts dating back thousands of years. Learn about the early pioneers, the Oregon Trail, agriculture, ranching, rodeo, sheepherders, and much more.

History & Culture

Wheeler County Court House (1901)
701 Adams Street, Fossil, OR 97830
541-763-2191

Oregon Paleo Lands Visitors’ Center
333 Fourth Street, Fossil, OR 97830
541-763-4480

Gilliam County Historical Society
Highway 19 at Burns Park, Condon, OR 97823
541-384-4233

Spend a Day at the Museum

Fossil Museum & Pine Creek School House
First & Washington Street, Fossil, OR 97830
541-763-4440

Spray Pioneer Museum
402 Willow Street, Spray, OR 97874
541-468-2069

Sherman County Historical Museum
200 Dewey Street, Moro, OR 97039
541-565-3232

Kam Wah Chung Museum
125 NW Canton Street, John Day, OR 97845
541-575-2800

Ghost Towns

Richmond

South from Service Creek on Highway 207 and one mile east on Richmond Road. Established in the 1890s, Richmond had a store, school, church and community center.

Lonerock

East from Condon on Highway 206 to Lonerock Road. This pioneer town’s namesake is a huge rock which sits next to a Methodist church dating back to 1898.

Shaniko

South from Fossil on Highway 218 and eight miles west of Antelope. Many beautiful historical buildings still stand at what was once largest inland wool shipping center in the world.