GOLDENDALE, Wash. (May 12, 2025) — A repository of art, culture and tradition in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, Maryhill Museum of Art has announced it will host its first-ever overnight Solstice at Stonehenge Celebration at Maryhill Museum of Art and its Maryhill Stonehenge Memorial Monument in Goldendale. The celebration begins on June 20, 2025 at 4 p.m. and runs through 10 a.m. on June 21.
Solstice at Stonehenge
Attendees are invited to celebrate the longest day of the year with family camping on the expansive Great Lawn on the museum grounds, with after-hours access to the museum and engaging activities including crafting, meditation, music, and storytelling. In the spirit of community traditions, attendees are invited to contribute their own song, dance, and spoken word to the evening’s activities.
The celebration will culminate with a sunrise ceremony at the Stonehenge Memorial, a short drive from the camping area. Songs, poems and stories will herald the sun’s ascent over the heel stone, echoing the ancient rituals that occur each year at the original Stonehenge in England, while also honoring multi-cultural. Following the ceremony, breakfast will be served at the museum cafe. Reservations are required for the camping, museum access and workshops; the Stonehenge Memorial is free to visit and open to the public.
“I’ve spent many summer solstices over the last 30 years at Maryhill’s Stonehenge Memorial,” said volunteer event producer and Maryhill patron David Lee. “This year, I worked with the Maryhill staff to develop an event built around the shortest night of the year, with activities, education and time for reflection that is inclusive and open to everyone. I’d like to see this event and the spirit of the memorial continue for future generations.”
Starry Night at the Museum
A second camping opportunity occurs the following weekend, June 28-29, with the annual Starry Night at the Museum event. Campers are invited to set up a tent or camper van, enjoy the museum’s exhibits, and take in educational sessions held by local astronomers.
When the sun sets, members of the Rose City Astronomers will point their powerful telescopes skyward and help visitors view galaxies, nebulae, globular clusters and other deep-space objects into the wee hours of the morning under some of the darkest skies in the Pacific Northwest. Storyteller Will Hornyak and Astronomer Troy Carpenter from the nearby Goldendale Observatory will educate and entertain into the evening. Tickets are on sale now at the Maryhill Museum of Art’s website.
“Our museum grounds are a beautiful place to spend a summer night, and we’re pleased to welcome guests to two distinctive, engaging overnight events this summer,” said Amy Behrens, Executive Director of Maryhill Museum of Art. “Maryhill offers a unique combination of indoor exhibitions and workshop space, expansive outdoor grounds with a sculpture garden, and the wonderful Stonehenge Memorial to fascinate visitors of all ages.”
Photo of Stonehenge Memorial Monument. Source: Instagram via @drrennie
About the Maryhill Stonehenge Memorial
The Maryhill Stonehenge Memorial Monument is a full-scale replica of the original Stonehenge in England, dedicated on July 4, 1918, and completed in 1929. It was erected by Maryhill Museum founder Sam Hill to honor the Klickitat County servicemembers who lost their lives in World War I. While it continues to honor those lost in war from nearby communities, the memorial has also become a place to gather in celebration of the summer solstice each June. Attracting an eclectic group of people from across the Pacific Northwest, the memorial has enjoyed a steady stream of fans, many returning year after year.
Other Exhibitions and Events
Maryhill Museum’s special exhibitions for 2025 include Capturing Light: 350 Years of European and American Painting as well as a series of still life paintings by Robert Hunter Douglas and a collection of Romanian folk pottery. The permanent collection includes Théâtre de la Mode, functional art of the Indigenous People of North America, an extensive collection of intricate chess sets from around the world, a personal collection from Queen Marie of Romania, and more than 80 original works by sculptor Auguste Rodin. An ever-growing series of workshops, concerts and classes take place throughout the season.
How to Visit
The Stonehenge Memorial, located at 97 Stonehenge Drive in Goldendale, is open to visitors from dawn to dusk daily year-round. Maryhill Museum of Art overlooks the Columbia River on Washington’s SR 14, just west of US 97, 12 miles south of Goldendale, WA; it is a scenic 45-minute drive from Hood River, OR, 30 minutes from The Dalles, OR, 2 hours from Portland/Vancouver, 3.5 hours from Bend, 4 hours from Seattle, and 1.5 hours from Yakima.
Maryhill Museum of Art is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, March 15 through November 15 with ticketed admission. The Gardens & Grounds, including the William and Catherine Dickson Sculpture Park, are open from 10 am to 5 pm daily March 15 to November 15. For further information and tickets, visit maryhillmuseum.org.
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About Maryhill Museum of Art
Celebrating its 85th season in 2025, Maryhill Museum of Art ignites a journey of educational enrichment by preserving and interpreting art and historic collections. Set on a stunning 5,300-acre site overlooking the scenic Columbia River Gorge, the museum is open daily from March 15 to November 15. See art from the Pacific Northwest and around the world, eat at the cafe, shop, picnic, walk garden paths, attend educational and social events, or host your wedding or special occasion onsite. maryhillmuseum.org