Reviews of National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (Museum)

Noah Sparks

Lots to take in. Clever, interactive activities to teach young ones about the experiences of early Oregon Trail travelers.

Bubbling Books

Fascinating. 4 of us ra ging in age from 9 to almost 91 really enjoyed our visit

Arthur Baker

Very nice people very informative program

John Murtfeldt

Very informative...well done!

Dodge Run

Fantastic place well worth the time. Want to go back and spend time on what was missed. You could easily spend three or more hours and still not take it all in.

Stephen Bradbury

Excellent and interesting place.

Chris Herr

Awesome, informative, great historical didplays. Well worth visiting this place.

Jordan Nicole

We happened to come on free admission day which was a great surprise. The have many videos to watch and a fun interactive area we enjoyed. Worth the trip!

John Geyer

The human story. This place really brings to life the hopes, the dreams, and the struggles of the many people strong enough to put one foot in front of the other to start a new life. Love the history and highly recommend visiting.

Stephen Selby

Very cool place to learn about the westward expansion. Bring good shoes and plenty of water in order to be prepared for a 1.5 mile hike to see the actual Oregon Trail and original ruts from the covered wagons.

Johnson Christopher

It's historically important not to far from Baker City. The museum's panorama is old school. Nice facilities. Great views to think about these pioneers. But basically it's two ruts. If you're by there definitely worth the stop but not a destination.

Stan Fast

Superbly done, great detail. Allow 3 hours. Bring a lunch eat outside beside the Oregon Trail

Khai Robertson

The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. The exhibits are interesting. The view is absolutely gorgeous. This is a fantastic place for a family outing!

Ivan Strom

This is a must see if you are in the Baker City area. American Western History buffs are in for a real trat and the whole interactive experience makes it a great place for kids to learn about how the real West was settled. Amazing!

Chantell Gergen

Nice trails and a good and thorough museum.

Mark Boyer

This interpretive center is very well put together. Very educational and spectacular views. We really enjoyed the 4+ mile hike around the center. Makes us happy to see history preserved. Plenty of parking.

rjnichols2003

This is a great place to bring the family. We all learned a lot that we didn't already know about the Oregon Trail. It was extra fun because my wife and I used to play the computer game growing up in school. They made fresh pioneer authentic peach cobbler for everyone to taste. It was a nice extra treat. We also got to walk a bit down the original trail ruts as seen in our picture.

Liz Keene

Great place to visit.

Maxine Leroy

Wonderful place to get a lot of history.

Ryan Surface

Amazing place to learn about the pioneers! Got to see the ruts, sample trail Dutch oven cooking and connect with the past. Particularly enlightening for the kids as they got to pack wagon models, climb wagons and see how good they have it compared to kids in the trail:) can't wait to go back and do more

Lexa McAllister

Excellent exhibit! Definitely worth your time and money. The information was extensive and very easy to pick up on. They also have great trails surrounding the whole center. Wagons too!!

Mindy Gehrig

This was an amazing place to stop...so much history. Loved all the displays

Larry Whltesell

In 2014 we drove the Oregon Trail from Independence Missouri to the end at Seaside Oregon. We visited many sites along the way. This was the best Museum on the whole trip. It's well done.

KR BR

Very cool place...must see

Luc Maesen

This is the place to learn everything about the Oregon Trail and what brave people faced to settle in the West

Gwendolyn Stone

Beautiful museum! Great for all ages! Very engaging! Tons of amazing taxidermy!

Erica Haugum

Didn't go in but it was still pretty cool. About 6 miles of the road or more.

jolene whalen

Don't haul your horses here they're afraid our ponies are going to s*** on the trail:( so sad

Eugene Weber

This interpretation is good for both young and older persons interested in the Oregon Trail. Well the time!

J Haley

Out on the unforgiving desolate prairie, whipped by the piercing wind, perched high on the far rise, sits this oasis of knowledge and educational enjoyment great for any “day trip” on any given day of the week. On the wall in this museum, you can read a story about a lone tree that grew just over this rise. It was a sight of pleasure for the trail wearied Organ Trail immigrant as it was a sign of their trip’s nearing end. They had left their homes to find a new life and the high desert plains of the snake river basin were tough on the toughest of young stalwarts. One day, someone cut this lone tree down for fuel. That dude was an a**. (In my opinion.) In any case, this story is in this interpretation center, along with a walk through area featuring great taxidermy animals depicting a moment on the trail where motion sensors trigger historic audiologues. There is also a tiny model boat. With super bunch’s of hands on stuff for the kids and displays and films and the whole lot, this place is could take a few visits to take it all in. On a not so piercing windy autumn day, but on a beautiful cool spring/summer day, I bet the paved green belt through the rolling hills down to the actual ruts of the original Organ Trail, would be a great walk for those who like a little activity. Anyway, totally worth the visit. Do it sometime.

Kent Squires

The best Oregon Trail interpretive center in Oregon. Rich with factual history, multi-media presentations, walking and educational trails, knowledgeable staff. A great place to spend the day immersed in the history of settling the west.

Mandi Drake

An absolutely wonderful place to visit! Informative, well laid out, great staff! A must see in Baker City.

Darrin McKenzie

I could spend a week here. Excellent dioramas and displays.

Lynn Hergert

Great place to walk through and lots to see.

Jeff Humphreys

The lecturer was brilliant when we went there, and the dioramas were well made and the history was told in an easy to understand way.

Heathyr Nance

Love this museum! We always bring our baseball team on the way to Boise for tournaments. Great place to stop and picnic under the shade shelters in the parking lot. Don't forget to stop at the bottom of the hill to walk in the ruts of the Oregon Trail!

Charles Fenwick

This is a great interactive experience for all ages. We have been coming here for the last few years and enjoyed every time. This place provides the opportunity to see up close some of the struggles early pioneers experienced on their long journey to a new life in the west. Whether you want to walk the outdoor paths or follow the indoor self-guided tour, there is always something different to see. I look forward to the next trip.

Eileen Johnson

Really interesting. Loved the lesson on native American sign language.

Jessie Rollstin

This is a must see stop on your trip up I-84. The exhibits tell a story in a very exciting way and many of the exhibits allow kids to experience the Oregon trail in a variety of hands on ways. The views are also stunning. There is RV parking.

joanne brannies

Great place to learn oregon history

R.J. Rossmeisl

A must see if you are following the Oregon Trail. One of the best interpretive centers I have seen yet.

David Martin

Trails outside not really worth it But inside is very informative and worth it.

Brian Jeong

Good view on the top of the hill. Historical

Julie Phillips

Extremely well done

Robert Herron

Well worth your time! Impressive display to say the least.

Tom Waitman

Well worth the stop. Only 3 miles off the highway. Beautiful facility. The wagons, people, scenery in the huge displays are very realistic, well done. Lots to do there, exhibits, films, etc. Children's scavenger hunt activity. Beware this is a federal facility, so you need your pass or $8 entry. Learned a lot about the Oregon trail. Oh, and the facility is on top of a small mountain, so great views.

Grant Anderson

Hadn't been here since 5th grade. I figured it wouldn't be very interesting. Turned out to be more interesting then when I was in 5th grade.

Barbie Wood

An outstanding museum. I took my children here two summers ago before they studied the Oregon Trail in school. This place was so helpful depicting what life was like in that era. The taxidermy is amazing,the people look real,and walking along the wagon ruts were just a few of the interesting things to do there. This was a wonderful experience for my kids to learn about our own family's trip on the Oregon Trail in 1850. Combine this with a self guided walking tour of Baker City, a jet boat cruise up Hell's Canyon and you've got memories to last a lifetime!

John K

An amazing experience. Well taken care of museum and lots of information.

Rogel Music

Good history lesson, like the visuals.

Sara F

Lovr it! Educational and fun

Tyrell Kirk

Amazing. Makes you feel like you walked into the 1800s. Live sized mannequins and taxidermy animals. You can also walk the trails and see the original oregon trail wagon ruts.

Coke Miller

So much to learn about the early pioneers...such strong, determined people. This center has done a wonderful job of bringing all the information to life. The dioramas are exceptional. Today we were treated to an early blacksmith demo. Boy, do we have easy lives these days.

Preston Wallace

Studying the Oregon Trail with our kids, so this was perfect! Not too far off the beaten path either. Loved sitting in the wagons, and experiencing the story of the pioneers!

Paul Petrequin

Don't drive by this exhibit 20 or more times during your lifetime and say to yourself, "I will see it next time I come by." like I did. Take a special trip to see it. Plan on staying there at least 3 hours or 4, there is much to enjoy of our history.

Gregory Wirth

Nice place to stop and see some history. Not large but has interesting items. Gift shop. Nice polite people also. Plenty of parking for motorhomes. Clean bathrooms.

Chris Khan

Drove up here from Denver after flying in from England. Such a great museum. Did the walk round , really worth it. People very helpful

Suzanne Beebe

Lots of interesting things to see and read and a great hiking trail if not at the peak of summer heat

Jimmy Greco

This was a really neat place. Well worth the price of admission.

Paul Glanzer

All of the staff were very friendly and accommodating. Displays and programs were excellent.

Jeri Berger

Was interesting and informative. The trails are well maintained and accessible.

Karen Edwards

What an incredible collection of information! I loved the details of the displays and so did the kids. Seeing actual wagon ruts was awesome.

Chelli Lefler

Impressive. Walk down 2 c trail takes about an hour round trip, but good. Center is great at explaining all facets of the human migration.

Jon Boller

Very interesting stop along our route. I learned quite a bit about the trail and the hardships faced by the pioneers. I wish the weather was better so we could hike the trails around the museum.

Cynthia Ridenour

We drove from Bend to go to the Interpretive Center. Had a great time will be sure to bring our family when they visit.

Donald Ross

I learned a lot about what life was like for these people. It wasn't like ion the movies.

Roberto Castro

History of the Movement West. This interpretive center is just outside Baker City and offers a lot of history and views too. This is a must see. There is a small visitor fee, but we'll worth the time and money.

Lisa Caraboa

Possibly the best historical exhibits I've ever seen

Jay Schreiber

The Center does a great job of bringing the trail to life. A little paper booklet offers a view from a specific individual and fun crayons to "stamp" at each major stop along the way. There is "rut" just down the hill where you can see the actual path taken. A sign puts things in perspective, comparing the single path "rut" to the wider paths we're used to seeing made from car/truck wheels. 300,000 people traversed the trail.

Chad Snyders

My wife thought how cute! Great place to bring the kids!

Heather Webb

Always a wonderful trip. It doesn't matter how many times I've visited, reading the excerpts from journals from those that followed the trail gives me the chills.

Marie Clair

History at it's Best The interactive center does a good job of what crossing the USA was like 150 years ago. They have a very good movie, taking an hour to watch. The dioramas are very well done. There were 3 school buses with lots of children. They seemed to enjoy their visit. I would only say the movie was too long for most children. A good stop in Baker City.

John Allen

What a neat facility. Definitely recommend checking it out.

Bethany Jorgenson

Great exhibits and beautiful location. They had multiple junior ranger activities. The BINGO game scavenger hunt was a great way for the little ones to enjoy the museum. Another nice activity had visitors read from pioneer journals at different points along the trail and then do a metal/wax rubbing for each stop. Informative videos and many different first hand accounts of the harrowing experiences faced by the Oregon Trail Pioneers.

Joshalyn Kirkham

It's a little overpriced. I would suggest going to their website and going on their special days to get more for your money.

Deb Wessler

This is an incredible place and experience! It is a must see in Baker City, Oregon!

Jill Logan

A great interpretive center. Lots of detailed displays, maps, kid's activities, short films, and trails. We learned a lot.

Edward J Hegedus

Assume people, Great staff. Excellent displays.

Mitch Handcox

Fun spot to take the kids to! Very comprehensive overview of the trek along the Oregon Trail and lots of interactive exhibits. The views are spectacular.

Adam Evington

Fun to walk through and learn some stuff

Anthony Morin

If you like hiking this is a good place to go. And very little traffic. It is very out of the way though so did not get much cell reception.

Max Jones

Really worth the couple of hours it'll take to go through the displays and it is put together very well. Let your imagination run wild through another time.

Schin Haakenson

Well worth the $8 to get in. Perfect place to take your kids to learn some history. Lots of hands on and fun interactive displays. Walking trails for all levels and a chance to see the actual Oregon Trail ruts left by the original migration.

Gary Wm. Taylor

Very informative and interesting.. some well thought-out displays, coupled with the beautiful panoramic valley below. I highly recommend this Museum!

laboy61

Very awesome experience. Learned a lot. Well worthwhile.

Shawn Bennett

So worth the stop if you enjoy history

Sara Dawn

The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is a great place to spend your day. Fun and educational for kids and adults.

Triston McCormick

8 doll hairs per person with enough information to keep one busy for at least an hour half. Long trails with viewpoints and wagon ruts from pioneers crisscross the hillside expanding the experience for the mobile and brave.

Shelley Day

This was an impromptu stop as we were travelling north to Washington. Even though we both spent most of our lives in Oregon, we had never been here. Great displays and so much history! We were abke to use our "America the Beautiful" National Parks Pass so there was no charge. Well worth the stop!

NaomiW

It was fun and exciting now I know a lot more about the Oregon trail

Marsha Middleton

Wonderful presentation in various ways and from various viewpoints of the experience of traveling the Oregon Trail. Gorgeous views of the land through which the emigrants traveled from the windows. Also trails leading to the site of the trail where wagon ruts are still visible. National park passes make the visit free.

Brittany Cambell

absolutely wonderful place to experience what it took our predecessors to settle here! And AMAZING staff!

Kristina Gueli

Fun! Way fun! I wonder how long it took them to put all that living art together. Loved it. Ya haven't been to Baker if you haven't visited the interpretative center and the Real Old Oregon Trail!

steve heryford

Great staff. Thanks so much for your time and consideration

Ecce Homo

Great exhibits! Excellent views!!!

Robert Stone

Okay, it's really a museum and a good one at that. Why interpretive? According to one person working there it's because the presentation has a perspective of certain views. There is a bit of "most white people were bad" and first nations people were "mainly good," but it's fascinating to read the first hand records, see the artifacts and pictures. Both we and the kids enjoyed the life size displays. Well worth the stop.

Celene Cross

Great experience for the whole family. Although it was too hot to take the short walk to the wagon ruts, we listened to a talk about strong pioneer women and spent the rest of the time looking at the diaramas and displays. Nice place to be on a very warm day!

Rick Cauley

Very informative. A first class place if your interested in Oregon history.

Caryn Allen

Off the beaten path by quite a bit, but a nice little place. The price tag to get in seemed a little high, especially considering that the museum is really pretty small, but overall it was a positive experience for our family.

Lou McCarl

Very nice facility, friendly staff, time well spent

Christina Carlsen

We thought it would be a quick stop to get a glimpse into the history, but we're pleasantly surprised by how detailed and comprehensive the site was. Highly recommended to all those passing through.

Susan Lair

Took our granddaughters for an outing they enjoyed the scavenger hunt. Great outing on a cold afternoon!

Amanda Carroll

Really cool place to visit with kids! Their interactive exhibits held the kids' interest better than expected, and the children's area has lots of cool, learning activities and games (which gave the kids more to do while my husband and I lingered over some of the other exhibits). I also liked the assortment of handmade/Pioneer-type games and toys for sale in the gift shop. Really glad we made the effort to come out this way!!

Bill Jennings

This was a nice tour. I was a bit disappointed with the display and access to the actual trail. The signs of stay on the path and look at the sign that says it was here did not do the trail justice. I think there should be a 400 yard hike in the soil right on the spot. I am all for preserving history, but what is happening here is the growth of sage brush. Can you imagine going to the Pacific Crest trail and not being able to walk on it? Why not let people feel the history of the Oregon Trail in the souls of there feet?

Steven A

This was fun to go explore on vacation to Baker City, OR. Very friendly staff and interesting exhibits.

Max Bechdel

Great times, plan a little over an hour if you want to check out everything inside.

Sean Basford

An excellent historical interprative center about the great westward migration. Located right on the actual Oregon Trail. Lots of trails and paths around the facility.

Carol Janssen

Excellent display of the journey, the decisions necessary during the preparations and during the journey. Worth a planned stop

Steve S

Well thought out with more information than you can take in in one visit. Helpful volunteers. Terrific movie showing every hour. Great hiking trails with one leading to wagon ruts.

Ron Hall

Great exhibits. Good place to stretch your legs.

Normand Legault

Wow, tons of information about the great migration from Missouri to Oregon during the mid-1800s. Great, huge exhibit as you walk in (the kids will love it); it sets the scene up--and explains that about 300,000 people migrated through here! Then you pretty much follow one family's migration from beginning to end, with lots of information about the difficulties they faced and how they manage to cope during the 6-month journey. Amazingly, some of the wagon tracks are still visible today near the center (short walk required). Overall a very impressive, modern interpretive center that I would highly recommend if you're interested in that part of American history.

Risha Duttry

Such a great place to learn history of the Oregon trail!

Sarah Kilgour

This museum had fantastic displays. They had lots of really cool exhibits with consise explanations for those of us who don't like reading for hours on end.

Tom Kemp

Five star telling of the Oregon trail one star for location.

JHatfield 1972

Friendly staff. Great museum. Beautiful sights.

Michael Vandeventer

Awesome place to learn about the brave people that traveled cross country to start a new life in a new wilderness area. Great exhibits and informational movies and audio. Great place to take kids.

layne short

Great place to stop and learn something. Very interactive for children and amazing historical facts for everyone else. One of the best places to see actual history.

Rachael Stinson

A great assortment of displays and antiques. On a beautiful grounds with walking trails. Great for all ages. Do not skip this if you are in the area!

Christine Williams

Nice place to bring the kids for some American history. Nice and cool inside and lots of interesting activities

Amanda Emanuel

We really had a lot of fun! The self paced museum allows you to take time to read everything, and really look at all of the artifacts. The movies help to bring history to life! Really cool experience!

Cathy Uthus

A great historical location with a amazing facility. Just don't do it when it's over 90 degrees without plenty of water and breaks

Emily Kausler

We have an almost 4 year old, and a one year old, both of which had a blast here

Jessica Mcdonald

Very cool! The way the information is presented is both educational and interesting to look at. Well worth the couple miles off the interstate. I'm glad we stopped here while traveling through.

Maury C

We always enjoy the Oregon trail museum. Very lifelike displays.

Dale Eagar

I first visited in 1992 when my late wife and I brought the family to the recently opened center. Each visit since has been informative and interesting. There are hands on activity displays that will entertain and informnfor those rambunctious youngsters in your group. Be sure to hike down to the rutted trail. It is the real deal.

Gregory A. Parsons

Great place to learn something about our past.. Take the kids there.

Bob Coulter

Always enjoy spending time here every year...very educational! Great for kids!

Joe Lanzetti

I've been to this place three times and each time i feel more connected to the past and to the journey's of the original settlers. Very well done displays, it's organic on its layout, and very quiet when I've been, which i feel is important for absorbing history.

Why So Serious?

Very informative and educational. A must watch of the 1 hour video of the trials and tribulations of the early pioneers on their almost impossible journey to Oregon.

Melanie Dara

Great museum. Brought to life the real struggle to travel on the Oregon trail. Cool to see some of the wheel ruts preserved.

Ben Thyer

Really great displays, and super knowledgeable rangers ;) The actual hours are 9:00-6:00 during the warm months, don't let the time on Maps fool you. Good trail system, 2.5 mile loop. My advice: Skip the movie (which you could watch anywhere) and go through the indoor exhibit, taking your time. Definitely check out the trails and mines if you have time!

Chris Riehl

Very well put together and informative!

cshelskr

Make sure to stop if you get a chance. The kids love going there..so do I. Great people and nice setup.

Cory Nadvornick

Everything you've ever wanted to know about the oregon trail and more. If you're driving through, this is a must stop to walk through the history of Oregon and the Oregon trail. Movies play daily detailing the trials and tribulations of the settlers.

Frances Thompson

Beautifuly done, animals look life like.

Dan Badescu

Amazing place for people interested in history. Explains very well the migration on the Oregon trail and the perils the pioneers faced.

Rehouven Libine

An interesting museum on the oregon trail. There's a movie that gives a lot of information on what the oregon trail was and how hard it was for the people who travelled it. Also, the museum part is beautifully done. The building has a stunning view and you can even see some of the ruts made by countless chariots over 150 years ago.

Dennis Amaral

Very informative would recommend it for everyone

Scott Wood

Neat place to go and see some wagon ruts from the Oregon trail. Walk the paths and visit the center for lots of cool stuff to see.

Evan Wicks

A very important piece of the West's history certainly worth seeing. Everyone in the family enjoyed this fun museum.

Jim R

Really enjoyed the exhibits, especially what our ancestors experienced on their five and a half month journeys.

Michelle Vander Pol

A neat place for all ages! Our 7 and 8 year olds enjoyed it as much as my husband and I did!

Monica Lenarcic

The display in the center is very well done and informative. I enjoyed my time there. I was disappinted that we were not able to see the movie because a school group was there.

Johnterry Binando

Fun place to learn much about a key American 1943 mile long land mark. Good for all ages. $8 per person or free with Parks Pass. Plan on spending at least 1 1/2 hours.

The Bailey's

We loved our time and the fabulous displays. Thanks for the information of other places to visit on our travels. We hope to return and spend more time enjoying everything at your site.

Eric Schrecengost

Always love visiting here. I really recommend going when they have speakers and interpretative actors on site. It really brings the Oregon Trail experience to life!

Pat

Very interesting historical displays. Excellent for families. Nice gift shop.

William Burnett

I have always enjoyed Oregon history, partly because we had a family relative cross the Oregon Trail with his parents when he was 9 years old. The Interpretive Center does such a wonderful job of portraying the way our Oregon Trail pioneers made their historic journeys with artifacts, letters, displays, depictions and even live theatrical presentations. I have been there several times and even enjoyed a live music presentation by gifted musicians from throughout the region. At times you feel as though you have been placed into the scene when you walk through the presentation "Trail." Plan on at least 2 hours and check the schedule ahead if you want to take in a live presentation. You won't be in a hurry to leave.

Russ Jones

A fascinating place to understand what the movement westward meant. Displays are engaging and very informative. I spent hours here in June 2017 and will not hesitate to return when in the area again.

Laura Downing

A great place to step off the interstate and ponder the folks that walked the route so many years ago.

James Johnston

Worth a visit. Great selection of historic items and displays. Plenty of walking trails.

Greg Organ

It was beautiful and the displays were simple and meaningful.

Clarence Bennett

Fantastic stop along my Oregon Trail adventure. Well worth the fee to get up on Flagstaff Hill and the Interpretive Center.

JoAnn Lievsay

Very neat place and great history

wanderwoof

Big place out in the middle of nowhere. Larger and more complete than I expected. Worth the short trip off the freeway. It took the Pioneers 5 months to get there, your 15 minute drive off the freeway will feel like nothing.

Bryan Hermans

My wife and I were amazed at the scope of the facility and the grounds. They made you experience the pioneering effort well-- identifying with the hardships of primitive continental travel. A lot of work went into the dioramas. You can actually walk on a preserved section of the trail.

Kirk Shira

I deliver there, UPS driver. It's a awesome place. I'm there almost everyday. Good destination place. Expect to spend some time there.

Ahava Goldwater

The use of models and props, the written word and the spoken word, and videos and other visuals bring history alive. The story of the interactions of the native peoples and the arrival of the pioneers is a fascinating one.