Photo: Richard Schmitz for Seattle Refined
We’re delighted to share that Seattle Refined recently profiled Maryhill Museum of Art in their travel series — and they captured exactly what makes our home on the Columbia River Gorge so extraordinary.
From the outside, we may look like a solitary mansion on a bluff in rural Washington, but inside, we hold worlds of history, art, and unexpected treasures.
Rodin in the Gorge
Yes — we really do have one of the most significant collections of Auguste Rodin works in the Pacific Northwest, right here in Klickitat County. More than 80 works by the French master live within our galleries: bronze casts, terra cottas, plasters, watercolors, and fragments that offer an intimate look into his creative process. Among them are maquettes of The Thinker and The Hand of God, inscribed by Rodin’s friend and our own co-founder, Loïe Fuller.
Royal Curiosities & Cultural Gems
As Seattle Refined points out, our collections go far beyond sculpture. Visitors are often surprised to discover a lock of Queen Victoria’s hair in one of our displays — one of many remarkable objects with rich stories to tell. From Orthodox icons to haute couture miniatures and Indigenous art, our exhibits span continents and centuries.
A Vision Made Real
Our setting is as much a part of the experience as the art itself. Built by entrepreneur Sam Hill, our Beaux-Arts style historic museum sits above the Columbia River Gorge, offering sweeping vistas. Thanks to the vision and determination of Hill, Fuller, Queen Marie of Romania, and philanthropist Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, Maryhill became the vibrant museum you see today.
Your Invitation
As Seattle Refined put it, if you can’t make it to Europe this year, we offer “an illusion of Europe” — plus the raw beauty of the Gorge and the warmth of our Pacific Northwest community. Whether you’re coming for Rodin, the views, the royal connection, or all of the above, we can’t wait to welcome you.