Mt Hood Cultural Center & Museum

05/29/2026

In the late 1930's, Timberline Road was cleared of snow for the very first time, granting adventurous skiers a new path up Mount Hood.

As more people took to the slopes, the need for safety patrols became clear. Hank Lewis stepped up, becoming the first official ski patroller on the mountain. His dedication marked the beginning of the Mount Hood Ski Patrol's proud legacy.

Today, we honor Hank and the trailblazing patrollers who followed in his tracks. Their commitment to keeping fellow skiers safe, from those early ungroomed runs to the world-class resort we know today, shaped the soul of our patrol.

Here's to the visionaries who saw a need and answered the call to serve.

05/28/2026

Only two days left to buy tickets! Get yours today!

Enter to Win a Luxurious Mountain Getaway! 🏔️

We are delighted to announce a raffle, courtesy of a generous donation from Collins Lake.

The Prize: a gift certificate for a 2-night stay at Collins Lake, accommodating up to 6 adults and children. Valid for one year (until 6/1/2027), with exclusions applying to certain peak holiday and seasonal weekends. The drawing will take place on Saturday, May 30, at our Discover the Lost Township of Swim breakfast (no need to be present to win).

Tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100 - call 503-272-3301 to purchase.

05/19/2026

Despite a late-season cameo from Mother Nature, the snow couldn't dampen the energy at our latest Social History Happy Hour. While the weather kept some away, more than 20 brave souls joined us to celebrate a local legend.

The room was filled with incredible storytelling and a true sense of community. Matthew Drake, CEO of Mt. Hood Meadows, recounted childhood memories of training on the mountain under the watchful eye of Fred Noble. Dennis Adair shared personal anecdotes of his friendship with Fred, including the unique arrangement of trading dentistry services for heli-skiing trips. We were also joined by Holly Miller from ALS Northwest, who highlighted the vital work their organization does for patients across the region.

By the end of the night, the film left everyone truly feeling "The Noble Spirit," and we collectively raised $411 to support the mission of ALS Northwest.

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SAVE THE DATE: JUNE SOCIAL HISTORY HAPPY HOUR EVENT UPDATE

We are shifting our schedule for next month to host a very special evening with skiing legends Phil and Steve Mahre! On Friday, June 12, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the brothers will join us to share stories from the World Cup circuit and their historic double-podium finish at the 1984 Olympics.

This is a rare chance to hear from two of the greatest American racers in history while they are on the mountain for their summer camps. They have even been generous enough to allow the Museum to exhibit their 1984 Olympic Gold and Silver medals this year—don’t miss the opportunity to see them in person and hear the stories behind the wins.

Thank you to everyone who braved the elements this past week. We look forward to seeing you in June for an Olympic-sized evening!

05/13/2026

Don't forget to come to the museum on Saturday evening to remember Fred Noble and raise money for ALS Northwest!

05/12/2026

Local NewsODOT Warns of Major Delays as Dual U.S. 26 Projects Begin Near Warm Springs and Government Camp Posted on May 11, 2026 by elizabeth.smith 11 May Starting today, the Oregon Department of Transportation is launching two major maintenance projects on U.S. 26 that will trigger significant dela...

05/08/2026

Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum Presents: The Noble Spirit
Social History Happy Hour and ALS Northwest.

Please join us for a commemorative evening honoring the life and legacy of Fred Noble. An adventure sports legend in Oregon for over four decades, Fred was a fixture on Mt. Hood and a pioneer in the global skiing community. From skiing the inaugural opening day at Mt. Hood Meadows in 1968 to his tenure with Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) and his featured roles in Warren Miller films, Fred’s impact on the sport was profound.

In observance of ALS Awareness Month, we invite the community to gather for a screening of the documentary "The Noble Spirit," followed by a sharing of stories from Fred’s close friends and colleagues.

Date: Saturday, May 16
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
Film Runtime: 34 minutes
Location: Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum

Admission: Minimum $10 donation. We graciously encourage guests to contribute beyond the minimum in support of the cause.

All proceeds from admission and beverage sales will be donated directly to ALS Northwest. These funds provide critical support for local patient services and ongoing ALS research.

Help us honor Fred’s never-ending Noble Spirit and contribute to the fight against ALS.

04/28/2026

04/28/2026

**Limited Spots Still Available: Join us for the Lost Township of Swim!**

We still have a few tickets remaining for our upcoming expedition on Saturday, May 30th. If you haven't secured your spot yet, now is the time to join us for this unique look into a forgotten corner of Mt. Hood history.

This event serves as a vital fundraiser for the Museum, replacing our cancelled Ski the Glade. We invite you to spend the morning exploring the mystery of Swim—a 1920s mountain hub that once featured a general store, post office, and an (in)famous warm springs-fed swimming pool.

The day begins at 10:00 AM with breakfast at the Museum and a presentation on Swim’s history, featuring stories and rare archival photos. From there, we will take a guided walk down a wagon-rutted section of the historic Barlow Road to visit the townsite itself. We will show you original cabin foundations, stone fireplace hearths, and the remains of the historic pool dam.

Tickets are $100 per person and we are strictly limited to 40 participants. These remaining spots are first-come, first-served, so please call the Museum at 503-272-3301 to reserve yours today.

As a special bonus, each participant is entered to win a 2-night stay at Collins Lake Resort. Additional raffle tickets are also available for purchase at $25 each or 5 for $100. No need to be present to win, so even if you can't make it to the event, you can still support the museum by buying a raffle ticket or two.

Help us support the Museum and preserve our local heritage. We look forward to seeing you there!

04/25/2026

We’ve been hard at work on inventory projects. Last week we photographed a bunch of Timberline Lodge, Mt Hood Ski School, and Mt. Hood Skibowl ski school instructor hats, but we don’t know the years they were used for most of them. Were you an instructor on the mountain? Recognize any of these? Help us narrow down our date ranges!

04/22/2026

We are excited to share four incredible new donations to our permanent collection that celebrate our favorite view: Mt. Hood.

An evocative oil on canvas by Albert Patecky (1906–1994) titled "Strength of Our Fathers Known of Old", circa 1940. This painting depicts a somber moment of mourning by an Oregon Trail gravesite, set against the backdrop of covered wagons and the towering peak of Mt. Hood.

Mt. Hood at Sunset, circa 1880s-1890s. Attributed to the "The Oregon Artist" Eliza Barchus, this expansive five-foot wide oil painting captures the mountain in the glowing, ethereal light of dusk.

A beautiful large framed black-and-white print of a photograph by Ben A. Gifford. Taken in 1901, it depicts the mountain reflected in Lost Lake over 125 years ago.

And the "MT HOOD LOOP" neon sign. A vibrant piece of roadside history! This circa 1940 neon tubing has been expertly restored by Nigel Barnes at Electric Spaghetti Neon. This acquisition was made possible thanks to numerous generous community donors.

We hope you'll visit us soon to see these treasures in person!

04/20/2026

Enter to Win a Luxurious Mountain Getaway! 🏔️

We are delighted to announce a raffle, courtesy of a generous donation from Collins Lake.

The Prize: a gift certificate for a 2-night stay at Collins Lake, accommodating up to 6 adults and children. Valid for one year (until 6/1/2027), with exclusions applying to certain peak holiday and seasonal weekends. The drawing will take place on Saturday, May 30, at our Discover the Lost Township of Swim breakfast (no need to be present to win).

Tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100 - call 503-272-3301 to purchase.