A fine collection of Native American artifacts and Western art is found at the Favell Museum (125 W. Main St., 541/882-9996 or 800/762-9096, www.favellmuseum.org, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat., $7 adults, $4 ages 6–16, children under 6 free, $20 family). Here you’ll find beautiful displays of Native American stonework, bone and shell work, beadwork, quilts, basketry, pottery, and Northwest coast carvings as well as a collection of over 60,000 mounted arrowheads.

Another attraction is the collection of miniature working firearms, ranging from Gatling guns to inch-long Colt 45s, displayed in the museum’s walk-in vault.

Six miles south of Bend is the High Desert Museum (59800 U.S. 97 S., 541/382-4754, www.highdesertmuseum.org, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily May–Oct., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily Nov.–Apr., $15 adults, $12 seniors, $9 ages 5–12, children ages 4 and under free). Although the admission may seem steep, this is an excellent indoor-outdoor museum that will take half a day to explore in detail. During the winter, admission prices drop by a few bucks.

You’ll find an impressive display of Native American wealth at the Museum at Warm Springs (541/553-3331, www.museumatwarmsprings.org, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily Apr.–Oct., 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Wed.–Sun. Nov.–Mar., $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4.50 teens, $3.50 children), located just east of the town of Warm Springs below the viewpoint at the bottom of the Deschutes River Canyon.

400 Grand Blvd., Kansas City
816/471-1856
www.1856.com

HOURS: Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

COST: $12.50 adult, $11.50 senior, $4.75 child

As 19th-century expansionists pushed their way through the Midwest, river travel became a popular way to transport people and goods. The steamboat industry flourished and muddy river waters served as a lengthy, and at times treacherous, highway. Prior to her untimely sinking, the steamboat Arabia had traveled the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers before changing hands twice.

1616 E. 18th St., Kansas City
816/474-8463
www.americanjazzmuseum.com

HOURS: Tues.–Sat. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. noon–6 p.m.

COST: $8 adult, $3 child;
Negro Leagues Museum combo ticket $10 adult, $5 child

4420 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City
816/561-0903
www.kemperart.org

HOURS: Tues.–Thurs. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.,
Fri.–Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

COST: Free

The Gunnar Birkerts–designed Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art opened in 1994 and has since evolved into one of the region’s most comprehensive collections of contemporary art.

4525 Oak St., Kansas City
816/751-1278
www.nelson-atkins.org

HOURS: Wed. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Thurs.–Fri. 10 a.m.–9 p.m.,
Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m.

COST: Free

Upon its opening in 1933, the Nelson-Atkins’ Beaux Arts facade and intricately detailed interior combined to make the museum a true landmark for the city. The permanent collections feature pieces from a number of styles ranging from African and American Indian to decorative arts and South/Southeast Asian.

Although its hours are a bit limited, the Friends of Rocheport Historical Museum (First and Moniteau Sts., 1–4 p.m. Sat.–Sun. May–Oct.) provides a fascinating glimpse into local history. The volunteer-staffed museum contains carefully preserved artifacts and historical documents from the town’s rich history as a former trading post and river and railroad town.

The town of Rocheport was near one of Lewis and Clark’s stops as they made their way west on their infamous early-1800s journey.

Historic Downtown

Dozens of historic buildings fill the heart of downtown Juneau. Get a brochure describing them from the Juneau-Douglas City Museum (4th St. and Main St.).

One of Juneau’s most photographed sights is the onion-domed St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church (5th St. and Gold St., 907/586-6790, www.juneau.org/parksrec/museum, Sun. 1–4 p.m., Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. mid-May–Sept., tours $2), built in 1894. Inside are icons and artwork, some dating from the 1700s. For a more evocative experience, attend a service (Sat. 6 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m.).

A massive $106 million expansion in 2009 transformed the Anchorage Museum (625 C St., 907/929-9200, www.anchoragemuseum.org, $10 adults, $8 seniors, $7 ages 3–12, younger children free) into the state’s largest (170,000 square feet) and finest museum.

One popular feature is the kid-friendly Imaginarium Discovery Center, with 80 hands-on science exhibits, including an amazing high-tech globe that displays today’s weather patterns, an air cannon, and pulley chairs. Many exhibits focus on Alaskan science, especially earthquakes and volcanoes. Also on the first level is a planetarium and a gallery of Alaskan art, including Sydney Laurence’s 6- by 10-foot oil of Mt. McKinley.