Sam Hill was a dreamer, and also rich. This allowed him to purchase thousands of acres of parched dry land in the east end of the Columbia Gorge to follow his dream of establishing a Quaker farming community and building a mansion. The farming dream withered like the grass on the slopes surrounding the mansion, which did get built in 1914.
When his dreams faded, he turned his mansion into a museum of art including several eclectic permanent displays such as the Native People of North America, International Chess Sets, sculptures by Auguste Rodin, and the Theatre de la Mode Miniature French Fashions of 1946. The Loie Fuller, Sam Hill, and Maryhill Galleries display significant paintings by American and European artists, and sculptures dot the outdoor gardens.
On the Washington side of the Columbia River just west of Biggs Bridge in Goldendale. Open daily 9 – 5, Mar. 15 – Nov. 15. Visit their website for more info.
