Museums and galleries in Portland

11 museums and galleries in Portland, from the big collections to small independent spaces.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

BuySoutheast
Buckman
An up & coming neighborhood in the southeast to rival the Pearl District in the northwest. The neighborhood is bounded to the west by the Willamette River, south by SE Hawthorne, east by SE 28th and north by E Burnside. It was an industrial warehouse district until the end of the 20th century. It is now gentrifying with all sorts of boutiques, antique stores, furniture stores, gift shops, bars and restaurants housed in old warehouse buildings particularly along SE MLK & Grand Ave (OR-Hwy 99E) and along SE Water Ave. The area is also home to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science & Industry) and is connected to Lloyd Center by the frequent Streetcar going up down SE Union/MLK and to downtown by the Hawthorne and Morrison Bridges.
BuySouthwest
Compound
In the Old Town district, this Asian inspired version of Urban Outfitters is truly a funky place to get some t-shirts, bags, sneakers, comic books, vinyl toys, artwork, and more. Friendly staff. Upstairs is an amazing free gallery, with works available for purchase from cutting edge artists. Prints available too since the originals are quite pricey.
Tue-Sun noon-6PM
SeeSouthwest
Oregon Maritime Center and Museum
Located on the Portland, a steam sternwheeler tug boat moored in the river, the museum contains numerous ship models, maritime artifacts and memorabilia, while tours are offered of the ship.
Wed Fri-Sat 11AM-4PM, closed Sun-Tue Thu$7 adults, $5 seniors, $4 students, $3 youth, children under 6/military free
SeeSoutheast
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
OMSI
OMSI is great for kids, with hundreds of hands-on activities with a particular emphasis on technology and earth sciences; you can spend a full rainy day here and not get bored. Moored in the river just outside is the USS Blueback, an old navy submarine which is open for tours (separate ticket required). There's also a planetarium and an IMAX theater which requires separate admission, but you can view the IMAX projector in operation without paying for the movie ticket.
Summer: 9:30AM-7PM daily; winter: Tue-Sun 9:30AM-5:30PM$22.50 adults, $15.50 youth (3-13), $20.50 seniors (parking $5/ 2 hrs., $8/all day; IMAX theater, planetarium, and submarine tickets require separate admission)
SeeSouthwest
Portland Art Museum
Has several outstanding collections and is regularly updated by moving exhibits. It is an expansive museum where one could easily spend an entire afternoon. The Whitsell Auditorium in the basement of the museum is where the Northwest Film Center hosts film screenings.
Sun noon-5PM, Mon-Tue closed, Wed-Sat 10AM-5PM$25 adults, $22 seniors/students, children 17 and under free, members free; free on the 4th Friday of every month 5PM-8PM
SeeNorthwest
The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum
Museum featuring eclectic exhibits and art as well as a gift shop.
Daily 11am-11AM-7PM 7pm$10 per person except $7 per person Tuesdays
SeeSouthwest
World Forestry Center Discovery Museum
Built like a giant log cabin, this museum is devoted to the science and cultural impact of Pacific Northwest forests.
10AM-4PM daily$10 adults, $9 seniors (62+), $6 youth (3-17), children 2 and under free
SeeNorthwest
Blue Sky Gallery
Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts
22 NW 8th Ave
Free
SeeNorthwest
Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
724 NW Davis St
Tue-Thu 11AM-5PM, Fri 11AM-4PM, Sat-Sun noon-5PMAdults $8, students and seniors (62+) $5, 12 and under free
SeeNorthwest
Portland Chinatown Museum
127 NW 3rd Ave
SeeSoutheast
Portland Puppet Museum
906 SE Umatilla St
Thu-Sun 2-8PM

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Portland (CC BY-SA 4.0).