Maryhill Museum of Art

What Maryhill Museum of Art does

Maryhill Museum of Art is a private, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit art museum located on a 5,300-acre bluff above the eastern Columbia River Gorge in Goldendale, Washington, 12 miles south of town off Highway 97. The museum was dedicated in 1926 by Queen Marie of Romania for founder Samuel Hill and opened to the public on May 13, 1940. It operates seasonally from March 15 through November 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with a small staff of 1–10 supported by volunteers and an all-volunteer Board of Trustees. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The institution's product is a unified on-site cultural experience built around a non-replicable permanent collection: more than 80 works by Auguste Rodin, 3,500+ Indigenous objects (1,000+ baskets, 175 Arctic pieces), 400+ international chess sets in the George E. Muehleck, Jr. Gallery, 25+ Orthodox icons, Théâtre de la Mode fashion mannequins, Queen Marie of Romania's personal collection, Art Nouveau glass, and outdoor sculpture by Northwest artists. The 5,300-acre grounds include the Stonehenge Memorial (a full-scale WWI replica four miles east of the museum), the historic Maryhill Loops Road, and the William and Catherine Dickson Sculpture Park. Visitor products comprise admission tickets ($10–$23), annual memberships with NARM reciprocal benefits, a museum store, Loie's The Museum Café, venue rentals, and educational programs for K-12 schools.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack: seasonal paid admission, recurring memberships, museum store and café retail, signature event programming (Concours de Maryhill, Starry Night at the Museum, PNW Plein Air), annual fundraiser galas, business partnerships, and donations plus a small endowment. The 2025 gala raised over $179,000 and the 2025 year-end fundraiser raised $252,763, while a 2023 grant of $10,600 from ArtsFund and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation supplemented operating support. GTM is event-driven, leveraging the 2026 centennial marketing cycle and partnerships with automotive clubs, regional hospitality (Best Western PLUS Hood River Inn, Maryhill Winery), and cultural organizations to drive attendance and fundraising across visitor, member, school, and business segments.

Name

Maryhill Museum of Art

Legal name

Maryhill Museum of Art

Website

https://maryhillmuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Maryhill Museum of Art is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art museum in Goldendale, Washington, operating seasonally on a 5,300-acre Columbia River Gorge property. It serves general public visitors, K-12 schools, members, business partners, and automotive enthusiasts through paid admission, memberships, retail, events, and educational programs centered on its Rodin, Indigenous, and Queen Marie collections.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Museum and Cultural Institution

NAICS

Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

Keywords

• Art museum services
• Cultural education programs
• Permanent art collections
• Museum membership programs
• Museum venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Goldendale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Daily admission fees from visitors during seasonal operations (March-November). Pricing tiers for adults, seniors, students, youth.
2. Museum Store: Retail sales of art books, jewelry, Native American crafts, gifts, and souvenirs. Online store available at shop.maryhillmuseum.org.
3. Membership Program: Annual memberships providing free admission, discounts, and access to member-only events.
4. Fundraiser Galas: Annual fundraising events including gala dinners with auctions. 2025 fundraiser raised over $179,000; 2024 fundraiser exceeded $100,000 goal.
5. Café Operations: Loie's The Museum Café serving sandwiches, salads, espresso, beverages, and baked goods.
6. Business Partnerships: Annual business memberships providing recognition and benefits including reciprocal museum access.
7. Donations and Endowments: Supported by small endowment, individual donations, and gifts to the collection. Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Maryhill Museum of Art operates a single-site seasonal art museum on a 5,300-acre property above the Columbia River Gorge in Goldendale, Washington. Its core offering is paid admission to permanent and rotating art collections (Rodin, Indigenous art, Orthodox icons, international chess sets, Théâtre de la Mode fashion mannequins) housed in a Beaux-Arts mansion, complemented by educational programs, a retail store, Loie's café, venue rentals, and signature events. The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by memberships, donations, and admissions.

Product overview

Maryhill Museum of Art is a single-site art museum offering a unified visitor experience centered on its Beaux Arts mansion and surrounding grounds in the Columbia River Gorge. The museum provides paid admission tickets granting access to rotating and permanent exhibitions across diverse collections (Rodin, Indigenous art, chess sets, icons, fashion, glassware), educational programming, a museum store, café, and venue rental services. Signature events include Concours de Maryhill, Starry Night, and annual fundraiser galas. The 2026 centennial season features new exhibitions including American Classical Realism, Contemporary Indigenous Art, and Romanian Embroidery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Loie's The Museum Café: The museum's on-site cafe offering sandwiches, salads, espresso drinks, and pastries.

Products and services

• Museum Admission Tickets Paid admission to the museum offering access to all exhibitions, permanent collections, and grounds during the seasonal operating period (March 15 – November 15). Pricing tiers: Adults $23, Seniors 65+ $21, College with school I.D. $16, Youth ages 7-18 $10, Children ages 6 and under FREE. Members admitted free.
• Permanent Collections Standing art and historical collections including 80+ works by Auguste Rodin, 25+ Orthodox icons, the George E. Muehleck, Jr. Gallery of International Chess Sets (400+ sets), more than 3,500 Indigenous art objects (including 1,000+ baskets and 175 Arctic materials), Théâtre de la Mode fashion mannequins, Art Nouveau Glass, and Samuel Hill historical materials.
• Rotating Exhibitions Seasonal temporary exhibitions featuring diverse art forms including American Classical Realism, Contemporary Indigenous Art, Romanian Embroidery, Illuminated Manuscripts, Russian Icons, New Mexican Bultos and Retablos, Romanian Folk Pottery, the 1946 Lelong Dance Dress, and Pacific Northwest Plein Air.
• Educational Programs Curriculum-aligned programs for K-12 schools, educator resources, community projects, docent-led tours, and public programs including Slow Art Day workshops, basket weaving workshops, and museum orientation tours for students, teachers, and the general public.
• Museum Store Retail shop offering art and history books, jewelry, Native American crafts, gifts, and souvenirs. Operates both on-site at the museum and online at shop.maryhillmuseum.org, with proceeds supporting museum operations.
• Loie's The Museum Café On-site café offering sandwiches, salads, espresso drinks, baked desserts, and local wines. Open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily during the museum's seasonal operations.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership program providing free admission year-round, discounts at the store and café, invitations to member-only events, and access to NARM (North American Reciprocal Museums) benefits covering 1,000+ museums.
• Event Rentals Venue rental for weddings, private events, and corporate functions, including use of Cannon Power Plaza, indoor event spaces, museum grounds, and catering options such as the on-site café.
• William and Catherine Dickson Sculpture Park Outdoor sculpture park featuring large-scale works by Northwest artists including Mel Katz, James Lee Hansen, Julian Voss-Andreae, and site-specific installations such as Brad Cloepfil's Maryhill Overlook.
• Stonehenge Memorial Full-scale concrete replica of Stonehenge located four miles east of the museum, built by Sam Hill as a World War I memorial and recognized as a Pacific Northwest historical attraction. Free outdoor attraction on museum property.
• Concours de Maryhill (Annual Classic Car Show) Annual October automobile show featuring classic car exhibitions, awards presentations, and the historic Maryhill Loops Hill Climb vintage car race, organized in partnership with Goldendale Motorsports Association and other vintage racing clubs.
• Starry Night at the Museum Annual summer event offering overnight camping on museum grounds with stargazing opportunities and telescope viewing, held in June.
• Annual Fundraiser Gala Annual fundraising event featuring dinner, auctions, and paddle raise to support exhibitions and museum operations, with sponsors including Horst & Graben Wealth Management, Best Western PLUS Hood River Inn, Maryhill Winery, and J.D. Fulwiler Insurance.
• Annual Business Partnership Program
• Gardens & Grounds Expansive museum grounds including formal lawns, shade trees, picnic areas, the Lewis and Clark Overlook, the Native Plant Garden, and sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge surrounding the Beaux Arts mansion.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2025 year-end fundraiser raised $252,763
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Goldendale Motorsports AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizes the annual Concours de Maryhill classic car show, held each October at the museum grounds. This partnership drives significant event attendance and aligns with founder Sam Hill's passion for roads and automobiles.
• Maryhill Loops Vintage Hill Climb AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizes the historic Maryhill Loops Hill Climb vintage car race held each October. First event was in 1955, making it one of the most historic events on the Pacific Northwest motor racing calendar.
• Best Western PLUS Hood River InncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor and accommodation partner for fundraiser galas, providing venue and accommodations for out-of-town attendees.
• Maryhill WineryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine sponsor for events and fundraiser galas. Local winery providing wine for catering at events.
• J.D. Fulwiler InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for multiple galas including 2024 and 2025 fundraiser events.
• Oregon ArtsWatchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner and regional arts media organization providing marketing visibility.
• National Charter BusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner providing transportation services for group visits to the museum.
• Alliance Française De SeattleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness partner representing French cultural organization in Seattle.
• Tri-Cities Strictly British Motor ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssists with vintage car events and hill climb competitions at Maryhill Loops Road.
• Yakima Valley Sports Car ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssists with vintage car events and hill climb competitions at Maryhill Loops Road.
• Society of Vintage Racing EnthusiastsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssists with vintage car events and hill climb competitions at Maryhill Loops Road.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture: Spokane-based regional museum with art, history, and Indigenous collections spanning the Pacific Northwest. Comparable in geographic positioning, mixed collections, and reliance on regional tourism and education.
• Bainbridge Island Museum of Art: Single-site Pacific Northwest art museum featuring regional artists with rotating exhibitions and educational programming. Comparable in scale, geographic setting, and mission to bring art to a non-urban audience.
• Tacoma Art Museum: Pacific Northwest art museum with strong focus on American art and Northwest art, plus significant holdings of Western American art. Comparable as a regional art museum with permanent collection, special exhibitions, educational programming, and event/membership revenue mix.
• Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (University of Oregon): University art museum in Eugene, OR with diverse permanent collections (Asian, European, American art) and rotating exhibitions. Comparable as a Pacific Northwest art museum with curatorial programming and educational outreach.
• Whatcom Museum: Regional multi-disciplinary museum in Bellingham, WA with rotating exhibitions, permanent collections, education programs, and event rentals. Directly comparable as a mid-sized Pacific Northwest museum combining art, history, and community programming outside a major metro.
• Hallie Ford Museum of Art (Willamette University): Willamette University's teaching art museum in Salem, OR featuring American and Native American art. Comparable as a smaller Pacific Northwest art institution with permanent collections and community-oriented programming.
• Fort Walla Walla Museum: Regional history museum in eastern Washington with permanent exhibits, events, and educational programming on a sizable campus. Comparable as a rural/small-city Pacific Northwest museum combining exhibits, grounds, and signature community events.

Broad incumbents

• Seattle Art Museum: Major metropolitan art museum in Seattle with extensive global collections and significant endowment. Comparable as a Pacific Northwest art museum but operates at much larger scale with broader programming and resources.
• Portland Art Museum: Largest art museum in Oregon and a major Pacific Northwest cultural institution with broad collections spanning Native American, Asian, European, and contemporary art. Operates in a related but broader category and benefits from urban scale and resources.

Regional players

• Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum: Interpretive museum in The Dalles, OR focused on Columbia River Gorge natural and cultural history. Comparable as a cultural tourism anchor in the same Columbia River Gorge corridor that draws visitors to the region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/maryhillmuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maryhillmuseum
• Instagraminstagram.com/maryhillmuseum

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maryhill Museum of Art