Vibiest Museums in Portland

Embrace a wide array of educational, historic and cultural interests.

Year after year, museums endure throngs of travelers who want a zesty, treasuresome trip through history and culture. While Portland is known for its natural beauty, some of the city's dreamiest scenes are indoors.

So what’s the scoop on the vibiest museums in Portland? We’ve pulled together a list of vibrant, diverse and family-friendly locations--some with lush gardens and outdoor art, too, so you can still get that Pacific Northwest vibe. Let’s go.

The Portland Chinatown Museum is a riveting site of historical significance. Walking through the hallways of this majestic venue on NW Third Avenue and Davis Street, you will get a titillating exposure to China's past, present, and future direction. Catch a glimpse of the moments defining Portland's first, true multicultural neighborhood closely hemmed to the city's origins.

Take a giant leap into the world of myth and mystery at Peculiarium. But, before calling it a horror house with fleeting oddities, keep in mind that many couples have renewed their marriage vows there! The store is committed to discovery and terror. Be careful, a meal worm or candified gecko might be wedged in your cake.

Your nautical dreams can be enlivened with a trip to the Oregon Maritime Museum, where you'll embrace the real taste of maritime travel and commerce exemplifying the years past. Jump aboard for a tour of the engine room and the steamer's pilot house, compelling memorabilia, relics, photos, and World War II ships. The jewel of the Willamette River is calling.

Environmentalists and sustainability enthusiasts find sanctity in this impressive museum right next to the Oregon Zoo. The World Forestry Center’s modernistic lodge ambience accentuates the lushness of nature, particularly the resplendent tropical rainforest and Pacific Northwest trees. Kids will love the atmosphere with lots of environment-inspired merch and cool gifts to choose from.

OMSI draws over a million visitors to its legacy of science every year. With hundreds of immersive exhibits, eight science labs, one planetarium, the Empirical Theater, and a retired U.S. Navy Submarine open for eyeballing, the museum presents a surreal form of entertainment that differentiates it from the other top science centers nationwide. At some point, you may feel eaten alive by a croc or shot in the chest by a marine; that's because, in 2013, the Museum overhauled its IMAX theater for a 4-story digital projection with 3D functionality and presence. It's the biggest screen in Portland! The activity timeline schedules spirit-lifting light shows layered by the music from the likes of Beyoncé and Katy Perry.

The more academically inclined amongst us would appreciate the display of Oregon's rich history at Oregon Historical Society. History molds our understanding of who we are, and for more than 100 years, the society has evolved its custodianship to cover a broad array of historical subjects, symposiums, and special programs. Plug your nerdy sensibilities into the wealth of books, maps, reports, photos, and films offered by Oregon's most prized scholarly asset.