What a unique experience it was to have a tour from the daughter of the man who constructed this…read moremuseum. It's truly amazing to think of how much love and hard work went into it. If you plan on going, give yourself a large chunk of time to just be there. There's lots to see and if you blink you just might miss something. I will be recommending this museum to other local visitors. So glad that I stopped! Hope to be back Even if you're not a rock hound I think you will still be impressed.

I was blown away. This is a must-see. I agree w/ many of the other five-star reviewers. I got to…read moremeet w/ the husband (his wife dealt w/ the next couple after us). He has obvious memory issues. I fear this won't be open for very much longer, so please see it ASAP if you can. VERY MUCH WORTH SEEING -- it is a reflection of a time gone by -- government would NEVER permit the sort of housing seen here. Astonishing to think what artistic works his father accomplished -- nowadays we can boast about Skyrim/Stardew Valley houses whereas he actually BUILT a house, painted numerous paintings, made the incredible stone Biblical "paintings" and all the other artistic endeavors.

Very small but diverse collection. One of the galleries was closed, so even smaller…read more Only $5 admission

First- check out their website for free days. It's only $5 but that's a barrier for some & they…read morehave monthly first Friday as well as other days free. Second. This museum is excellent -& I admit, I've been misrepresenting it. Pre Covid I went to a show and was deeply underwhelmed.This past weekend while visiting, I ran into an acquaintance and we both commented "did they change something? Wasn't this kind of a meh experience before?" Maybe they got the bigger Schnitzer collection out? New curators? I don't know what happened but it was GREAT. New works are top notch Japanese & Korean collections are small but stellar Contemporary & modern North American artists very broad and high quality choices. Single user bathroom on the second floor also a big winner as is the elevator and the tiny but compelling gift shop. Kudos all around (Wish the cute cafe would open back up. Fingers still crossed)

Oh, I loved this. My BFF lives in Salem, so I know they have a carousel since we've visited with…read morethem. But I don't even know how I found out Albany had a carousel a couple weeks ago and I'm really glad we did. It was worth the 50 minute drive from Eugene. We went on a Wednesday, because they have happy hour on Wednesdays from 3-4 p.m. (they close at 4). Rides were half off (usually $2 per ride token). Some of the concessions are half off as well which was nice! And don't sleep on the concession stand; it's got a great menu and it's reasonably priced. Since I was there with my toddler, an adult was required to ride with her to make sure she was secure (there are not restraints on the animals) and for that reason, the accompanying adult was free. My sister and I took turns on baby duty, though we did all go on at least once (so that used two tokens). And they do a free ride as the final ride, so we all had fun on that one too. This place is run by volunteer power. So thankful for them all so we can have a great time! The historic part of the carousel is that the mechanism is a Dentzel 1909 piece donated by the great-grandson of the founder of Dentzel Carousel Corporation and the National Carousel Association. The objective was to enchant people with the finest carousel in the world, and they may well have met the brief here. There is a menagerie of animals here and they are all beautiful. The outside animals are stationary, and the inner two rows are "jumpers" (they move up and down). The animals are all hand-carved. I think I heard on the video playing in the souvenir shop that the outer animals cost $10,000 and $7,500 for the jumpers, and they're worth it because of the beauty and labor expended. Downstairs there's a museum, which we didn't have an opportunity to visit this time. But I am really looking forward to checking it out. The gift shop (also volunteer-run) has some really nice items, from carousel-specific to more generic gift items. I just wish they had more for smaller children, because I wanted to buy a t-shirt for my toddler but had no luck. But there is a sticker for every one of the animals on the carousel! I bought a couple stickers for the two my daughter rode on. Each of the animals has names, too, which would have made my search easier but I managed. They have a few rooms for rent, so you can have parties or events here. You can also join as a member at one of several levels and get a variety of benefits, one of which is unlimited rides. I can imagine this would be a magical place for a birthday party. I really have to applaud the thought and care that went into creating this attraction. They have some fantastic events; their 21-and-older Derby Day event is sold out weeks in advance. They have weekly story time events, and if we're in Eugene when they happen we may drive up for it. There was a tea, and a Mother's Day event is planned (with a free ride for the moms!). They even have a weekly sensory friendly period, when the carousel runs quiet (yay for DE&I!). I really appreciate the focus on inclusivity here, from the aforementioned sensory days to weight inclusion. There's even a Tea-Rex dinosaur themed tea party coming up! They also give back to the community, such as their carving program for teens to learn the craft. It's simply wonderful. There's free street parking on the blocks around the carousel. Besides that, parking gets a little tricky so you'll want to consult their webpage to see what the parking options are. I cannot wait to visit again with my daughter for more fun rides and to explore the museum. (Review #2400, May 8, 2026.)

Awesome lil museum that is so amazing! They carve each & every animal for the carousel! Each ride…read moreis $2 & you get the ride token from The gift shop or the ice cream Counter. Great staff! Everyone was so happy & helpful! Def a must see if you are in Albany.

Lots to do for my 19 month old! Would love if adults were free since we have to be here for safety…read morereasons, its all for the kids. But an amazing amount of work went into it. Dont be fooled by the outside, it is not small. So much to let their imaginations take over!!

It's huuuge! Tou could spend all day and still not see and play with every feature. Only complaint…read moreis the bathroom. It does have child seats (super helpful) but it is difficult to get to from several of the areas so your little might not make it. They always had 2 people walking around and cleaning things. Most amazing, I must have dropped my kids sweater and only noticed when it was time to go. I thought I'd have to spend 10-15 minutes going through the whole place looking for it but there it was on the coat rack, placed there by a staffer who came across it.

Beautiful little museum and gallery! With a number of hands-on items, like fishing tools and…read morebasketry to examine more closely. I hope to return during tourist season to have a guided tour :)

What a gem of a small museum. It's very new and well-done. We asked for a tour, and Rochelle did a…read moregreat job showing us the rooms and telling us some key stories from their history. I'll be back, and will bring some friends. Free, but do leave a donation and/or buy a book.

They have wonderful trips. Very interactive. Very informative. If you're looking for a sea life…read moretour, this is the one to take.

Proper description. On the label, it says whale and shark museum but when you click on the icon on…read morethe map, it pops up as a whale watching tour, which is not a museum.

Went to visit this historic mill, Thompson Mills Flour Mill. Definitely worth a visit and a short…read moreday trip from Portland. I never even knew this place existed until my wife happened to find it on the Oregon State Parks website. There's no signage from the highway or nearby local roads, so you really have to be intentionally looking for it--you won't just stumble upon it while driving through the countryside. It's tucked away just outside of Tangent/Corvallis, which makes it feel like a true hidden gem. The guided tour was excellent and incredibly informative. Our guide did a great job walking us through the history of the mill, how it operated, and the many roles it played over the years. They even turned on some of the equipment to demonstrate how things worked, which really brought the history to life. We learned about land rights issues, the origins of the nearby town of Shedd, and that the mill was originally called Boston Mills after its owner who was from Boston--at a time when Portland itself could have ended up being called Boston (remember the famous coin toss). Fascinating stuff. There are authentic items on display from the 1800s and early 1900s, which added to the immersive experience. The mill is no longer operational and is preserved strictly for historical purposes, but that's exactly what makes it such a worthwhile visit. If you enjoy Oregon history or unique off-the-beaten-path experiences, this place is absolutely worth checking out. In the Fall (October), they do cider pressing so I might have to go back.

You won't find this site unless you do some research beforehand- you won't see any signage off the…read moreinterstate, and you wouldn't even know it exists unless you goof off on Google Maps like I do. It's a shame too because it's an interesting little place to stop off if you're driving along I-5; and the best part is that it is FREE. There is a standard museum area inside of the mill, but the highlight is going on a walking tour which takes you through areas you typically can't access (including the lower floor, with a very low ceiling that can feel claustrophobic.) The hosts were very friendly and informative, providing lots of detail on not just the history of this mill, but Oregon milling in general. A creek runs through the park and there is a small area to park and perhaps have a picnic; the grounds are very well maintained and I found it quite serene. There are also free restrooms, though I'm not sure if they lock them up at a certain time. This is a good place to stop on a long road trip if you need to stretch your legs a bit, or a local day trip to do something more on the peaceful side.

While we didn't have a chance to go inside the museum, the grounds are beautiful and well…read moremaintained. The gardens are a lovely spot to walk, explore and smell the flowers - when blooming. Staff kept to themselves and gave us space to wander the property. We walked, but Deepwood is set on a busy street corner so be prepared for traffic as you make your way to the parking area and the noise as you wander the gardens.

What a hidden gem in Salem! My husband and I have been trying to visit local museums and venues now…read morethat he is retired and this one popped in on our radar. We had an event near Salem so we thought we'd stop by. It's so quaint, gorgeous and proved to be lovely get away for the afternoon. It's not overly large as you can most likely walk and enjoy the trails, gardens and sights in about 30 minutes. There is a house tour but only on limited days/times and the day we visited was not one of those days. Beautiful flowers, tucked away benches and meandering trails all made for a wonderful walk. I highly recommend and it's free to walk around!

What a fun place to visit. There are hands-on exhibits as well as viewing exhibits. The blimp…read morehangar is amazing to see as well. Highly recommend if you are looking for interesting places to visit on the coast.

Great collection of aircraft and it was housed in two large hangers. What really made the visit…read morememorable and enjoyable were the docents who were very knowledgeable about the items on display. Thank you, Joan and Daniel! This would be a great place for school field trips.