Creativity thrives beneath Central Oregon’s bluebird skies. From Bend and Redmond to Madras, Prineville and beyond, the region is filled with history, heritage and culture. Here’s how to immerse yourself in Central Oregon’s unique cultural landscape on your next visit.
Visit Galleries and See Indigenous Art in Madras, Warm Springs and Camp Sherman
About 45 miles north of Bend, take a stroll through downtown Madras and pop into two galleries that sit right across the street from each other. River Ridge Gallery opened in 2025 to showcase Madras’ growing art scene. You can see and shop for pottery, paintings, woodwork and jewelry made by local and regional artists. Just across the street is the Art Adventure Gallery. For over 40 years, this volunteer-run gallery has been home to a wide collection of ceramics, paintings, glass, sculpture and photography, all created by regional talent.
If you feel like getting hands-on, stop by Jozil Ceramics Studio. You can sign up for a class taught by an experienced potter to learn the entire process, from shaping clay on the wheel to glazing. Or walk in and paint your own masterpiece on a mug, bowl or other small dishes from Thursday through Sunday.
Just 15 miles north of Madras, the Museum at Warm Springs shares the stories and artifacts of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Inside, look for items from local families, such as beaded clothing, woven baskets and tools used in daily life. You’ll also see paintings, sculptures, ceremonial clothing and historic photographs that show what life was like in this region since time immemorial. Before you head out, stop in the gift shop for beadwork, pottery and other handmade pieces by local artisans. It’s a meaningful way to support local makers and take home something unique.
Experience Art and Culture Outdoors in Prineville
Thirty-five miles northeast of Bend in Prineville, the Bowman Museum is housed in the old Crook County Bank building, built back in 1910. As you walk through, you’ll step into an 1800s parlor room with period furniture, peek inside a vintage medical office, and browse through exhibits full of artifacts from everyday life and work in late-1800s and early-1900s in this region. A short walk away, the Belknap Exhibit Center, part of the Crook County Historical Society complex, features rotating exhibits that dive into local and Central Oregon history, from cultural traditions to regional industries. Quilts, textiles, photos and other handmade pieces reveal both craft and the stories woven into the region’s past and present.
Art often lives outdoors in Central Oregon, where nature is the backdrop for remembering our heroes. The Circle of Honor memorial sits in quiet Ochoco Creek Park, where a semicircle of plaques honors service members from the area who are missing in action or were prisoners of war. A few steps away, the Wildland Firefighter Monument features a lifelike bronze sculpture of three firefighters honoring the courage of wildland crews and remembering those lost in Colorado’s South Canyon Fire in 1994, including 14 members of the Prineville Hotshots.
Wander Through History in Wamic, Shaniko and Sisters
In the tiny community of Wamic, 15 miles northwest of Maupin along scenic Highway 197 , Lone Bird-Studio 57 isn’t just a traditional gallery. It’s also the working studio of local artists, including G. Sampson and Jeff Audette. Here you can take an intimate look at refreshingly off-the-radar landscape paintings, wood carvings and sculptures. Public access is usually only during open-studio events, so reach out ahead of time by email or phone.
About 38 miles north of Madras, the ghost town of Shaniko welcomes you straight into Oregon’s high-desert past. Booming in the early 1900s and once known as the “Wool Capital of the World,” this railroad town shipped local wool across the West. Today a self-guided walk down Main Street puts you right in the middle of the town’s frontier days. Wander past the grand Shaniko Hotel, an old jailhouse, schoolhouses and weathered storefronts. The Shaniko Sage Museum brings this boom-and-bust town to life through historic maps, photographs and stories from local families.
Just off Highway 20, only 2 miles from Sisters, the Lazy Z Ranch carries more than a century of history. First homesteaded in 1885, it’s one of the area’s oldest ranch properties, and its iconic red barn still stands as a nod to those early high-desert days. Today you can sample mead (honey wine) made on-site using honey from the ranch’s own hives. Enjoy unique fruity and sometimes botanical flavors like marionberry, blueberry or carrot blossom — all great chilled on a warm summer day.
