Visitors can appreciate stunning Northwest regional architecture, watch documentary films in our Forests of the World theater, and explore society’s connection to forests in a variety of exhibits.
First Floor Exhibits
The first floor focuses on the many roles that forests play in our lives. View the forest as a habitat, a place for recreation and reflection, a critical resource, and more.
Prototype Lab
Help us develop new exhibits in this experimental gallery. Why would we manage forests? Forest management is not a binary choice — to cut or leave alone — but a grand spectrum. World Forestry Center is looking for new ways to broaden the forestry conversation. Share your thoughts!
Animals in the Forest
It’s estimated that 80% of the world’s animals call the forest their home. Our indoor Pacific Northwest forest is home to a variety of animals. See how many you can spot!
Timberjack Harvester
Sustainable forestry requires careful harvesting and some advanced technology. Climb aboard a Timberjack Harvester just like a professional forester.
Second Floor Exhibits
Much of the second floor takes a global perspective, exploring how people around the world are connected to and dependent on their local forests.
Following Fire
On display Nov. 1, 2024 thru
March 29, 2025.
Our featured art exhibition:
A long-term inquiry studying forest resiliency and uncertainty, by photographer David Paul Bayles and disturbance ecologist Frederick J. Swanson
Take a Journey
Embark on a whirlwind virtual tour of the world with stops in Siberia, China, South Africa, and Brazil. Learn about the four forest types (boreal, temperate, sub-tropical, and tropical) and meet people working to keep their countries’ forests sustainable.
Our World’s Forests
A huge world map highlights forest types and how different regions use their local forests. Artifacts and hands-on displays provide context on wildlife, forest values, and meeting human needs.
Leadership Hall
Our Forestry Leadership Hall commemorates those who have contributed to the social, economic, and environmental benefits of forests. More than 200 leaders have been in inducted since 1971.
Old Forestry Building
The origins of World Forestry Center date back to the Old Forestry Building from the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition. Photos and clippings about the “World Largest Log Cabin” tell the story of the building’s beginnings and its destruction in 1964.
Langdon Plate Collection
The incomparable beauty of wood is on display through this collection of 150 wooden plates created by James Porter Langdon, a local woodcarver and retired forester.
Campus Highlights
Peggy the Train
“Peggy” is a beautiful 42-ton Lima Shay-geared locomotive who has hauled an estimated billion feet of logs in her lifetime. Visitors are encouraged to climb aboard and explore!
Petrified Stump
Visitors to World Forestry Center are invited to examine the five million-year-old, 10,000-pound petrified stump on display outside the Discovery Museum.
