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By Karin Beuerlein

The Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, Wash. Photo: John Acuso

10. Maryhill Museum of Art — Goldendale, Wash.
www.maryhillmuseum.org

Claim to Fame: Priceless artifacts in the middle of nowhere

Every art lover's life list should include at least one museum created by an eccentric American millionaire and dedicated by the Queen of Romania. Ideally, it should be somewhere remote, say the Columbia River gorge on the border between Oregon and Washington. Maryhill Museum is just that weird little jewel in a devout museumgoer's crown.

Wealthy Seattle tycoon Sam Hill built the mansion that is now Maryhill Museum in 1914 with the intention of founding a Quaker community around it. No actual Quakers were interested, so Hill abandoned his plans. But his friends (including Queen Marie of Romania) convinced him to keep the place alive as a museum. Their encouragement and contributions led to the acquisition of a set of Rodin sculptures and Romanian royal regalia that formed the foundation for a truly significant collection. The museum today includes those original pieces plus fascinating collections of historic chess sets, fashion mannequins, Native American art, European paintings and Russian icons.

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