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http://www.maryhillmuseum.org

NEWS RELEASE Media contact:

Colleen Schafroth, Executive Director

(509) 773-3733, colleen@maryhillmuseum.org

 

 

Summer Fun at Maryhill Museum of Art

A visit to the Gorge means family-friendly museum programs,

outdoor recreation, wineries and more

 

(GOLDENDALE, Wash., March 27, 2009) – It’s not too early to begin planning a summer jaunt to Maryhill Museum of Art and the captivating region around it. While barely a two hour drive from Portland, Maryhill’s spectacular setting, high on the bluffs of the Columbia River Gorge, makes it feel worlds away. Coupled with the lively towns and beautiful scenery along the way, a trip to Maryhill can easily become weekend getaway filled with everything from hiking, biking or windsurfing, to wine and beer tasting, museum-hopping and more. Here's your guide to planning a spectacular trip.


SEASONAL EVENTS AT MARYHILL:

In addition to exhibits on view, Maryhill’s calendar is bursting with special programs and family activities. What follows are just a few of the many events planned this summer at Maryhill. For a full listing click here.

 

Summer Fun at Maryhill

Saturday, June 20, 2009

A fun-filled day awaits the whole family. Explore the museum and follow with a hands-on basketry activity for kids. As night falls, Portland Actor’s Ensemble presents the tragedy of King Lear, one of Shakespeare’s greatest works, against the incomparable backdrop of Maryhill’s Stonehenge.

 

Celebrate the Fourth at Maryhill

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Add some sparkle to your Independence Day and kick-off a new, family-friendly tradition. Enjoy a festive Fourth of July dinner from Café Maryhill or bring your own picnic to enjoy on the grounds. Kids can create their own American flag and visit with Smokey Bear. At dark, enjoy a festive laser light show with live music from Gorge Winds. Museum to remain open until 8 p.m.

 

Maryhill Arts Festival
Saturday & Sunday, August 15-16, 2009

With more than 50 artists displaying and selling art, live music performances, food vendors, and hands-on art for families, The Maryhill Arts Festival is a summertime tradition in the Gorge. There truly is something for everyone! FREE. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

 

Car is King Weekend

Saturday & Sunday, September 26-27, 2009

Late September in the Gorge promises notoriously gorgeous weather. At Car is King Weekend pay tribute to autos past and present with an open car show, veggie-car races for kids and the highlight of the show – the grand entry of the vintage race cars competing in the Hill Climb race on Sunday. Food, wine and beer available on site.

 

THINGS TO SEE & DO NEAR MARYHILL:
Maryhill's extensive Web site provides numerous resources for planning a trip to the Gorge, including what to do and where to stay. Here are some highlights.


Wildflowers
April and May are the peak months to see Gorge wildflowers blooming in a riot of colors; the fields surrounding Maryhill are home to hundreds of varieties, including balsam root, lupine, phlox, lomatians, wild rose and much more. Pack a picnic lunch, enjoy the blooms and spend time exploring the museum's outdoor sculpture and interpretative sites.

 

Native American pictographs and petroglyphs
Not far from Maryhill, at the Horsethief Lake section of the Columbia Hills State Park, you can see some of the oldest pictographs in the Northwest. This National Historic Site offers guided tours. Reservations are required. Call (509) 767-1159.

 

Hiking

Hundred’s of miles of hiking trails traverse the Gorge through open meadows, over dramatic bluffs and beneath waterfalls. Friends of the Columbia Gorge and NW Hiker provide information on self-guided and group hikes.   

 

Wineries & Breweries

The Gorge is quickly becoming one of the Northwest’s choicest destinations for wine makers, tasting rooms, and wine drinkers. Superb and diverse offerings range from Syrah and Sangiovese to Viognier, Reisling and Zinfandel. For an extensive list of wineries and tasting rooms that are open to the public, visit the Columbia Gorge Winegrowers. For breweries, click here.

 

Museums, Historic Sites & Other Attractions

When planning a visit to Maryhill Museum of Art, be sure to make a stop at one of the numerous museums or historic sites nearby. Two sites provide comprehensive listings of museums and landmarks of the mid-Columbia Gorge and specific information about Columbia Gorge History.

 

Star Gazing
While the mighty Columbia may be the star attraction in the Gorge, the Goldendale Observatory and Interpretive Center makes a strong case for looking skyward. Solar viewing available during the summer Wednesday - Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.; evening sessions from 8 p.m. to midnight for celestial objects. 

 

PLACES TO STAY:

Whether you are seeking a romantic, historic setting, a luxurious spa-like retreat, or a family and budget-friendly overnight stay, Gorge lodging offers something for everyone.  Maryhill Museum of Art recommends a number of overnight options in the area. Click here for more information.

 

SEASONAL EXHIBITS AT MARYHILL:

Maryhill's permanent exhibits feature a large collection of works by Rodin, European and American paintings, objects d'art from the palaces of the Queen of Romania, Orthodox icons, unique chess sets, the renowned Théâtre de la Mode and an extensive Native American collection. In addition, the following temporary exhibits will be on view this season:


Hudson River School Sojourn (March 15 – July 8, 2009)
 

Outdoor Sculpture Invitational (May 16 – October 4, 2009)


Ansel Adams: Masterworks (July 18 – September 13, 2009)

 

The Good Life (September 26 – November 15, 2009)

 

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ABOUT MARYHILL MUSEUM OF ART:

Housed in a glorious Beaux Arts mansion on 5,300 acres high above the Columbia River, Maryhill Museum of Art is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most enchanting cultural destinations.  Founded by Northwest entrepreneur and visionary Sam Hill, Maryhill opened to the public in 1940; today the museum boasts a world-class permanent collection, rotating exhibitions of the highest caliber, and dynamic educational programs that provide opportunities for further exploration by visitors of all ages.

 

The museum’s collection includes more than 80 works by Auguste Rodin, European and American paintings, objects d'art from the palaces of the Queen of Romania, Orthodox icons, unique chess sets, and the renowned Théâtre de la Mode, featuring small-scale mannequins attired in designer fashions of post-World War II France. Baskets of the indigenous people of North America were a collecting interest of Sam Hill; today the museum’s Native American collection represents nearly every tradition and style in North America, with works of art from prehistoric through contemporary.  

 

Maryhill’s Outdoor Sculpture Garden features work from the permanent collection by Tom Herrera, Mel Katz, Heath Krieger, Alisa Looney, Jill Torberson, Julian Voss-Andreae, Jeff Weitzel and Leon White. Each year the museum also hosts an Outdoor Sculpture Invitational showcasing artists of the Northwest. The Maryhill Overlook is a site-specific sculpture by noted Portland architect Brad Cloepfil; nearby are Lewis and Clark interpretive panels. Four miles east of Maryhill is a life-sized replica of Stonehenge, Stonehenge Memorial, which Sam Hill built to memorialize local men who perished in World War I. Nearby, the Klickitat County War Memorial honors those who have died in service of their country since World War I.

 

The museum was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In 2001 the museum was listed as an official site of the National Historic Lewis and Clark Trail and in 2002 was accredited by the American Association of Museums.

 

VISITOR INFORMATION:

Maryhill Museum of Art is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 15 to November 15. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $2 for children age 6-16. Admission to the Stonehenge Memorial is free; it is open from 7:00 a.m. to dusk daily.

 

Sandwiches, salads, espresso drinks, cold beverages, and freshly baked desserts and pastries are available at Café Maryhill; the Museum Store features art and history books, jewelry, Native American crafts and other mementos.

 

Maryhill is located off Highway 97, 12 miles south of Goldendale, Washington. Drive times to the museum are 2 hours from Portland/Vancouver, 3.5 hours from Bend, 4 hours from Seattle, and 1.5 hours from Yakima.  For further information, visit http://www.maryhillmuseum.org/.

 

High-resolution images for media use are available in the museum's press room.

 

Images above, from left to right: Car is King Weekend; Frederic, Lord Leighton (British, 1830–1896), Solitude, 1890. Oil on canvas.; Klickitat Coil Baskets on view in the Native Peoples of North American Collection. Made of cedar root and bear grass. Late 19th Century.;Stonehenge Memorial #1. Photography Scott Thompson; Liz Cranston, teacher at North Sherman Elementary School in Wasco, makes art at Maryhill Museum with Annalee Anglin of The Dalles.

Maryhill Museum of Art | 35 Maryhill Museum Drive | Goldendale, WA 98620 | 509-773-3733
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