The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center presents the natural and social history of the Columbia River Gorge and Wasco County, Oregon. Topics addressed include the history of the land, settlement history and daily life in the area, the material goods carried by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their exploratory voyage across the country (1803-1806), and the Ice Age. The collections include more than 26,000 artifacts with particular strong showings of Native American baskets, padlocks, furniture, and farming equipment. The center is located on 50 acres of land.
The center offers exhibits, films, a children's discovery area, an interpretive trail, collections and research library access, an educator's resource center, an educational program on birds of prey, guided student tours ranging between 45 minutes and one hour in length, self-guided student tours, and traveling trunks. Reservations are required for class programs and tours. The website offers interactive activities and electronic field trips.