Things To DoAttractionsMuseumsHarney County Historical Museum

Harney County Historical Museum

18 West D Street

Burns, Oregon 97720

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating based on 16 reviews

Experience Harney County history…see period room displays, wagons, period clothing, wildlife, and archaeological exhibits.The museum has been in existence since 1960 and is a treasure trove of artifacts and old photographs related to Harney County. Harney Countians and their descendants donated everything in the museum. Although the building may look small from the outside, it is filled to the brim with a wide variety of artifacts. Here you will see old radios, saddles, horse trophies, dolls cooking utensils, military relics and Native American artifacts. Also on display are old pictures, dishes, vintage clothes, wildlife mounts, books, rocks and fossils plus much more. Several displays include Peter French memorabilia, Edward Hines Lumber Company, Civilian Conservation Corp, The Peterson Room, The Hanley Room and the Veterans boards from the old Ideal Theater and an old time haying display.

TripAdvisor

October 22, 2023

Marjorie D

Number One Experience in Burns

So much to see and learn. Very kind and informative hosts who have filled every space with artifacts, photos, accounts of the history of the region and more. We could have visited several times if plans allowed. Looking forward to Paiute-focused museum just down the street. It may need some support for completion. Once done will undoubtedly create an even more comprehensive and compelling destination, a great reason to visit Burns.
June 19, 2023

mariasW2527RF

A Blast from the Past

The museum was well maintained with a wide variety of artifacts in its collection considering the size of the museum. I could easily have spent all afternoon there.
July 31, 2022

064gal

Great museum, extensive and fascinating collection.

As volunteers at the small, volunteer-run museum in our hometown, we like to visit other similar museums. The Harney County Museum was an excellent one. Like most of these kinds of museums, it takes dedicated and usually older, retired folks like us to keep them going. It was rich with exhibits of the local history with two floors of artifacts in a wide range of interest areas: native culture, pioneer days, minerals, forest products industry, and so forth. The docent on duty was very helpful, too. We spent over two hours but could have done a longer visit if we hadn't needed to get to our next destination during daylight hours.
February 11, 2020

Chowa-Rides-Again

Harney County Museum

We were in town so we stopped by today. We really wanted to see their giant ball of string that we had read about online. Found out they are closed for the winter. No date on the sign on the door when they’d be reopening.
July 2, 2019

ArtistJames

Good Way to Understand Burns/Hines

If you have a little time, want to stretch your legs, enjoy a climate-controlled space and learn a little history in the process, you'd be wise to stop at this very good museum in Burns. The staff that run the place are all local volunteers, enthusiastic and knowledgable about their town. You probably didn't know that Burns is named for a Scottish man, and that's why the high school is nick-named the Highlanders, did you? Or that the large ornate building on the highway as you leave Hines was once the headquarters of the huge old lumber mill? The museum is spacious, filled with tons of stuff--almost too much really--but you can pick and choose what you want to focus on. Staff are around to answer questions but don't hover too much. Some of the displays are unusual in that they were designed and donated by local individuals and families, such as the incredible arrowhead collection and a lovingly-made exhibit of the first Chinese family in Burns.

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Number One Experience in Burns

A Blast from the Past

Great museum, extensive and fascinating collection.

Harney County Museum

Good Way to Understand Burns/Hines