October 18, 2025 – March 29, 2026 

From dry and sandy to slimy and wet, many types of soils exist in the High Desert. But all healthy soils have one important thing in common: they form the foundation of the West’s ecosystems. Dive underground to explore the hidden world of soil.

This family-friendly exhibit takes visitors on a subterranean journey to encounter mycorrhizal networks, burrowing animals, and microscopic organisms. With hands-on features and digital interactives, Soil Alive! will excite visitors to explore the universe below our feet.

Made possible by James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, Oregon Invasive Species Council, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Combined Communications and Visit Central Oregon Future Fund

Free With Museum Admission