On Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 11 am to 4 pm, admission to the museum is free as we host a public Centennial Celebration festival to mark a century since Queen Marie of Romania traveled across two continents to dedicate Maryhill Musuem of Art above the Columbia River Gorge. If you’re making the trip to the Centennial Celebration from Portland, Seattle, Yakima, Bend, or anywhere in between, here’s how to turn the Centennial Celebration into a full Gorge weekend: where to stop on your way in, where to stay Friday night, and what to see before and after the celebration on Saturday.
Friday: Choose Your Route to the Gorge
Most visitors living outside of the Columbia River Gorge will travel to Maryhill Museum of Art via I-84 east/west or via The Dalles-California Highway 97 north/south. Either way, Friday is a good day to arrive early, settle in, and explore before the museum’s big day.
Coming from Portland: Hood River & White Salmon
If you’re driving east on I-84, break up the trip in Hood River or White Salmon before crossing over toward Goldendale. In Hood River, grab a Scandinavian-inspired brunch at Broder Øst inside the historic Hood River Hotel, or stop by Working Hands Brewery for a pint with river views. For dinner, Celilo and Riverside are local favorites. Across the bridge in White Salmon, Everybody’s Brewing has a patio worth lingering on, and White Salmon Baking Co. is a solid stop for coffee and a pastry before the drive east.
Coming from Yakima or Seattle: Yakima Valley
If you’re heading down from Yakima or the Puget Sound, downtown Yakima makes an easy stop. Grab coffee and pastries at Essencia Artisan Bakery & Chocolaterie, or pay a visit to the tasting rooms at Kana Winery. For dinner, Cowiche Canyon Kitchen serves up Northwest comfort food with a lively patio. If you’re passing through on a Sunday, the Downtown Yakima Farmers Market runs 9 am to 2 pm through October.
Coming from Bend: Highway 97 and the Deschutes Canyon
If you’re driving up from Bend, Highway 97 north to Highway 197 is the scenic route, tracing the Deschutes River canyon before it opens onto wheat country. In Maupin, it’s worth pulling off to watch rafters and anglers work the river, especially near Sherars Falls just north of town. Further up the road, Dufur is a good stretch-your-legs stop: walk the short main street, pop into Ranger Station for lunch or The Forge for coffee and treats. From Dufur, it’s a straight shot into The Dalles, where you can pick up dinner before crossing the river toward Goldendale.
Coming from Pendleton: I-84 West Through the Plateau
If you’re driving in from Pendleton, I-84 west along the Columbia River is a straight shot toward Maryhill. About an hour in, Arlington makes an easy leg-stretch stop: Earl Snell Memorial Park sits right on the river, with a swimming beach, a floating pier, and the towering wind turbines that mark this stretch of the Gorge. If you’re ready for a real meal by then, grab a sandwich at River’s Edge Deli & BBQ in town, or push on to Rufus for hand-cut steaks and barbecue at Bob’s Texas T-Bone. From there, it’s a quick run into Biggs Junction, where Highway 97 crosses the Sam Hill Memorial Bridge into Maryhill.
Wineries Supporting the Centennial
Several of our winery partners are worth a stop on your way to Maryhill. In Hood River, Cathedral Ridge Winery pours estate wines with Mt. Hood views. In Lyle, Cor Cellars sits right along the Columbia with a laid-back tasting room. In Sunnyside, Treveri Cellars specializes in sparkling wine and makes a fitting stop for those coming from Yakima. And of course, Maryhill Winery, Jacob Williams Winery, and Cascade Cliffs Vineyard & Winery are all within 10 minutes of the museum itself.
🍐 September Fruit Picking
September means apples and pears across the Hood River Fruit Loop. Draper Girls Country Farm, Packer Orchards, and Kiyokawa Family Orchards are just a few of those open for u-pick this time of year, with plenty of varieties.
Pro tip: If you plan to pick fruit on your way in, do it Friday rather than Saturday morning. A cooler in the car keeps your haul fresh, and it means your fruit won’t be baking in a hot car while you’re at the Centennial Celebration.
✨ Friday Evening: Goldendale Observatory
Once you’ve settled in the area, cap off the night at Goldendale Observatory State Park Heritage Site. Telescope viewings and evening programs make for a good warm-up to a full day at Maryhill.
Friday Night: Where to Stay
Lodging
Most towns are 30 minutes or more from Maryhill Museum of Art, adding to its “otherworldly” feel when you commute from your lodging through the stunning Columbia River Gorge to the museum campus overlooking the river and vineyards. On the Oregon side of the river, Best Western PLUS Hood River Inn in Hood River (45 minutes from Maryhill Museum of Art) is a top choice to stay for museum-bound travelers, with discounts for AAA and AARP members. In The Dalles (30 minutes from Maryhill Museum of Art), you can’t go wrong with locally beloved Cousins Country Inn or with the recently opened boutique lodging Rayland Hotel. Enter the code “MARYHILL” to unlock a special offer on your stay at Rayland Hotel for the Centennial Celebration weekend on September 19.
On the Washington side of the river, the Quality Inn & Suites Goldendale and local Air BnBs are convenient bases in Goldendale (15 minutes from Maryhill Museum of Art), while Lyle Hotel, a historic boutique hotel in Lyle (30 minutes from Maryhill Museum of Art), will extend a 15% discount to guests attending the Centennial Celebration. Call the hotel to place your reservation and redeem your discount.
Camping
Maryhill State Park sits right along the Columbia River for tent camping, with Peach Beach RV Park next door. Members of Harvest Hosts can spend the night RV dry-camping at Jacob Williams Winery. Across the river in Wasco County, Deschutes River State Recreation Area near The Dalles is another option for tent and RV camping.
Visiting tip: Rooms and campsites fill up fast in September. Book now if you’re planning to stay Friday and/or Saturday night.
Saturday, September 19: Centennial Celebration Day
🚲 Before 11 am: Walk or Bike Maryhill Loops Road
Beat the September heat with an early morning walk or ride on Maryhill Loops Road, the twisty 3.6-mile route commissioned by Sam Hill (originally several miles longer, it was Washington’s first paved macadam-asphalt road). Open daily to pedestrians and cyclists, it’s the coolest part of the day to take in the views before the Centennial Celebration begins.
🎉 11 am to 4 pm: The Centennial Celebration
Join us for Romanian folkloric music and dance, Romanian and American cuisine, regional wines and craft beer, children’s activities, historical displays, and free museum admission. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to commemorate the historic royal visit that culminated in Maryhill’s 1926 dedication.
🗿 After 4 pm: Stonehenge Memorial
Once the celebration wraps up, head over to the Stonehenge Memorial, a full-size replica of England’s Stonehenge as it was thought to look when first constructed—and one of the nation’s first WWI memorials—built by Sam Hill just three miles east of the museum campus. Late afternoon light makes for some of the best photos of the day, and it’s a peaceful way to end the Centennial Celebration day.
Whichever direction you’re coming from, pack a bag for two nights, bring a cooler for any fruit you pick up along the way, and join us for a weekend that’s been 100 years in the making.
