Attractions

Satisfy Your Wanderlust

Get ready to satisfy your feelings of wanderlust. Each of these gorgeous attractions offers another piece of the rich history and culture of The Dalles.
When you are done, you will know what it means to explore The Dalles.
Gorge Discovery Center

Gorge Discovery Center

Open year round. The multimedia, interactive museum inspires appreciation and stewardship of the natural and cultural treasures of the Gorge and Wasco County.

Historical Tours

Fort Dalles Museum

The Museum is housed in the Surgeon’s Quarters, the only remaining officer’s house of the 1856 Fort Dalles military complex. The Fort Dalles Museum is Oregon’s oldest history museum; it first opened its doors in 1905.

Housed in a glorious Beaux Arts mansion on 5,300 acres high above the Columbia River, Maryhill Museum of Art opened to the public on May 13th, 1940 and today it remains one of the Pacific Northwest’s most enchanting cultural destinations. Maryhill Museum of Art collects, presents and preserves art and historical and natural resources, to enrich and educate residents and visitors of the Pacific Northwest.

Maryhill Museum of Art

Sculptures and watercolors by Auguste Rodin, European and American paintings, American Indian art, changing exhibitions and breathtaking views of the Columbia River Gorge. One of the Northwest’s most fascinating cultural destinations!

First Wasco County Courthouse

Original Wasco County Courthouse

The courthouse was the first courthouse west of the Rocky Mountains. The building housed a sheriff’s office and three jail cells on the first floor and a courtroom upstairs entered only by the outside staircase. It was located at 3rd and Court Streets where the present City Hall now stands. This small courthouse was used as a public meeting place, church services, as well as the seat of law for the county.

Tsagaglalal - She who watches

Petroglyphs at Columbia Hills State Park

Reservation required. Guided tours of the pictographs and petroglyphs (Indian rock art) 10 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, April to October. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, call the park office at (509) 773-5007. Please leave a detailed message with your party size, the dates you have in mind, and your name and phone number. If a ranger does not return your call, call the office again. Do not come for a tour without verbally confirming with a ranger that your reservation has been made. It is advisable to reserve at least two or three weeks in advance, as tours are limited to 25 people and fill up fast.

Pulpit Rock

Pulpit Rock

Open year round. Pulpit Rock is a rock about 12 feet tall that was carved by natural elements. It sits right in the middle of the street just South of The Dalles-Wahtonka High School.

The Dalles Art Center

The Dalles Art Center

Open 11am-5pm – Tuesday – Saturday The Dalles Art Center facility is a designated historic building by the State of Oregon. The building served as a library until 1966 when The Dalles Wasco-County Public Library moved. The Art Center is constantly changing and updating to increase community involvement.

The Dalles Dam

The Dalles Dam Visitor Center

Open May through September, weekends only before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The Dalles Dam is located at 3545 Bret Clodfelter Way, Phone: 541-296-9778. Dam tours are available. Please call for an updated tour schedule.

Downtown The Dalles Mural

The Dalles Downtown Murals

Open year round. This wonderful artwork welcomes visitors and tourists who stroll into the downtown area via the Union Street overpass that leads to the Columbia River. The underpass project restored access to the river from the historic downtown business district of The Dalles and was completed in September of 2003.

The Dalles Fire Museum

The Dalles Fire Museum

The Fire Museum is open Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm, except Holidays and is handicap accessible. The Fire Museum, located in City Hall (originally the Fire Department) was completed in August 2009. The museum was curated by the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center in cooperation with the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue District in partnership with The City of The Dalles.

Klindts Booksellers

Klindt’s Booksellers & Stationers

The oldest bookstore in Oregon! With our original bookshelves and slightly squeaky floors, we invite you to browse through our vast selection of books, eclectic cards, journals, children’s toys, crafts, stationery and much more. We have a wide selection of titles, both new and out of print. From cooking, baking and brewing to mystery, sci-fi, and thriller – we can help you find the book you are looking for. As the oldest bookstore in Oregon, we are proud to serve the communities of The Dalles, the Columbia River Gorge, the Pacific Northwest, and our online customers.