Reid School

Reid School is a three-story school building in Bend made of pink volcanic tuff stone with large windows across its classical facade. The structure displays Richardsonian Romanesque features and contains ten former classrooms filled with original furniture and historical materials.

The building was constructed in 1914 as Bend's first modern school and served educational purposes for 65 years. In 1979 it was transferred to Deschutes County and later converted into a museum.

The building now holds the Deschutes Historical Museum, where visitors can see objects and exhibits about daily life in central Oregon during the early 1900s. The displays show how people lived and worked in this region at that time.

The interior is open to visitors and can be explored at a comfortable pace, with informational signs to guide you through the building. Plan to spend a good amount of time viewing all three floors and the various classroom displays.

The building is named after Ruth Reid, the first principal of Bend schools, who established educational programs without waiting for initial school board approval. Her unconventional approach shaped the early educational landscape of the town.

Location: Bend

Inception: 1914

Architectural style: Richardsonian Romanesque

Floors above the ground: 3

Made from material: stone

Address: 460 NW Wall Street

GPS coordinates: 44.05530,-121.31700

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:06