History comes alive at Fort Dalles Museum!

Take a tour of our unique collection of pioneer and military artifacts and antique wagons at one of the old west’s most pivotal places in history.

Fort Dalles Museum & Anderson Homestead

A landmark of Oregon frontier history in the Columbia Gorge

Step into the mid-1800s at Fort Dalles Museum, home to the 1856 Surgeon’s Quarters, one of Oregon’s oldest museum buildings (opened in 1905). Explore the story of The Dalles as an Oregon Trail gateway, view a rare collection of antique wagons, carriages, and early autos, and walk through the authentic Anderson Homestead. Located above downtown The Dalles in Wasco County, we offer self-guided tours, group visits, field trips, and a unique setting for events and small weddings. Plan your visit and experience Columbia Gorge history where it happened.

Visit Us:

  • Location: 500 W 15th St, The Dalles, OR - Directions

  • Open: 7 days a week, 10-5. April-October

  • Tickets: Admission rates: Adults $10.00, Seniors (60+) $8.00, Children (5-17) $5.00. Children 4 and under and active duty military are free.
    Free parking • Family-friendly • Accessible pathways to main exhibits & restrooms.

  • Contact: (541)-296-4547

Visit The Museum

Walk through the 1856 Surgeon’s Quarters
Tour the preserved Gothic Revival officers’ residence that anchored Fort Dalles, a U.S. Army post on the Oregon frontier. Period rooms, photographs, and objects trace pioneer life, frontier medicine, and the growth of The Dalles as a Columbia River hub.

  • Self-guided and guided options

  • School and adult group tours by reservation

  • Accessible pathways to main exhibits

  • Accessible restrooms

Contact Us

Antique Vehicles

From Oregon Trail freight to early motoring
See one of the Gorge’s largest displays of 19th-century wagons, stage and coach vehicles, buggies, a military escort wagon, and select early automobiles in our carriage and vehicle exhibits. Learn how goods and people moved through The Dalles, linking the Oregon Trail, Celilo Falls, and inland communities.

Highlights: freight and farm wagons, Victorian buggies, hearse coach, military transport, early “horseless carriages.”

Our Antique Vehicles

Anderson Homestead

A late-19th-century pioneer home, room by room
Visit the hand-hewn log farmhouse (1895) and barn to see daily life after Oregon statehood—wood-fired cooking, hand tools, quilts, and farm implements that sustained homesteaders in Wasco County. The Homestead complements the military story with an intimate look at early settlement lifestyles.

Learn More About the Homestead

Historic charm for weddings gatherings in The Dalles

The spacious, shady grounds of the 1856 Surgeon’s Quarters is the perfect place for a lace ‘n roses Victorian wedding, a boots & calico country frolic, or an intimate gathering of friends in a classical setting rich with history. It’s a special place for your special day. Consider renting the grounds of Fort Dalles for weddings, engagement parties, family reunions, corporate picnics, concerts, and more.  Unique historic setting, reasonable rates, and free, convenient parking. Please contact us for more information and to reserve your date!  

Support the Museum

Preserve Columbia Gorge history with us
Community support keeps the Surgeon’s Quarters, vehicle collection, and Anderson Homestead open and in good repair. Choose the way to help that fits you:

  • Memberships & Donations (tax-deductible)

  • Artifact Conservation & Exhibits

  • Volunteer & Docent Program

  • Corporate Sponsorships for education and restoration

Thank you to our corporate Partners

Plan Your Visit

  • Location: 500 W 15th St, The Dalles, OR - Directions

  • Open: 7 days a week, 10-5. April-October

  • Tickets: Admission rates: Adults $10.00, Seniors (60+) $8.00, Children (5-17) $5.00. Children 4 and under and active duty military are free.
    Free parking • Family-friendly

  • Contact: (541)-296-4547

  • Accessibility: Step-free access to grounds and primary galleries; please contact us for specific accommodations.

  • Groups & Schools: Curriculum-aligned tours on Oregon Trail, U.S. Army in Oregon Territory, frontier medicine, and Columbia River trade.

  • Nearby: Columbia Gorge Discovery Center; Riverfront Trail. Wasco County Courthouse Museum; downtown The Dalles;

FAQ

  • In The Dalles, Oregon, overlooking the Columbia River, 500 w 15th St, The Dalles

  • The 1856 Surgeon’s Quarters, antique wagons and vehicles, the Anderson Homestead, and rotating local-history exhibits.

  • Yes—intimate events & weddings by reservation. See Events & Weddings page for details.

  • Yes school and adult groups year-round with advance booking.