You don’t have to head to a big city to get your fill of art. One of the finest museums in the Western U.S. — Maryhill Museum of Art — is in a surprising location: housed in a striking Beaux-Arts mansion on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River. Best of all, it’s less than an hour’s drive from Hood River, making it an exceptional destination for an art-filled day trip. This historic museum, which was dedicated 100 years ago, houses an expertly curated selection of art featuring diverse collections from Rodin plasters to Indigenous beadwork. To get there from Hood River, simply head east along the scenic Columbia River, where the lush forests of Western Oregon morph into striking basalt cliffs; cross the Sam Hill Memorial Bridge into Washington and follow the river west for a few miles. the outdoor art collection along its meandering paths. There’s also a shop selling art-inspired books and gifts and a lovely cafe, Loïe’s: The Museum Café, which offers beautiful river views from a sweeping outdoor terrace. For more views, don’t miss Maryhill’s Stonehenge memorial, a full scale replica 3 miles east of the museum. Permanent Exhibitions: Indigenous Peoples, Rodin and More While seeing everything the museum has to offer might merit multiple trips, there are a few must-sees. The museum houses more than 80 works by Auguste Rodin, including one of the artist’s iconic The Thinker statues. It’s also an excellent place to see art from Indigenous tribes of the Columbia River Plateau region and beyond, some of which will be featured in a nationwide program; Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026. ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF MARYHILL One of the Northwest’s most surprising museums is mere miles from Hood River. A Century of History Maryhill was officially dedicated in 1926 by Queen Marie of Romania, a friend and cofounder of the museum with Samuel Hill. Some of the objects in the museum’s collection were gifts of the queen and her family. Hill died a few years later, and though his passing slowed down plans, the museum ultimately opened to the public in 1940. In honor of its centennial, 2026 exhibitions highlight the influences of its founders from Illuminated manuscripts to Romanian fashion and ceramics. A Centennial Celebration in September will feature Romanian food, folk dance and other activities. A Day at the Museum You don’t have to wait until September to enjoy the museum, which is open from mid-March until mid-November. Come by to immerse yourself in a vast collection of art, marvel at the museum’s architecture and stroll SPONSORED
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==