This 800-Ton Rock Building Is The Quirkiest Place To Visit In Oregon

Art may be in the eye of the beholder, but in some cases, it represents a person's legacy. Living Rock Studios in Brownsville is an incredible museum that represents one man's artistic talent and vision. You'll definitely want to pay a visit to this special place:

You've seen art museums before...but have you ever visited a museum where the artist also built the building? Such is the case at Living Rock Studios, a building made of 800 tons of rock created by Howard B. Taylor.

Find Living Rock Studios at 911 W. Bishop Way, Brownsville, OR 97327.

Howard B. Taylor was a surveyor by trade, but he became an artist after a series of health problems.

When he was 52 years old, Mr. Taylor suffered a heart attack and three strokes. During his recovery, he discovered that he enjoyed painting. From there, his artistic side really came out, and he began exploring different art forms in his spare time.

He created a set of seven living rock pictures, created from thin slices of rock. Each depicted a scene from the Bible, and lit from behind, each had a stained-glass effect that was simply beautiful.

Looking for a way to display his living rock pictures, Howard came up with a vision for a special building that would display them in a way that the light would highlight their intricate beauty.

Over the next 10 years, Howard, his family, and a host of volunteers constructed an 800-ton, two-story rock museum.

The museum includes a large collection of pioneer artifacts, as well as Howard's paintings, sculptures, and carvings. The building itself is a work of art.

Much of Howard's art is about nature, and these huge rock trees inside are one example. The painted leaf awnings were created by his daughter.

Stroll through this museum to see many antiques brought to Oregon by pioneers.

Howard also created 125 bird paintings and 75 wood carvings, all of which you can see inside his rock studios. Howard B. Taylor passed away in 1996, but his legacy lives on.

The Living Rock Studios is free to visit, though a $3 cash donation is appreciated. This quirky, unique museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..

Check out Living Rock Studios' website to learn more about this unique museum! Have you ever visited? If so, what was your favorite part of this incredible place?

Oregon's artists often leave legacies for others to enjoy. Check out this little dinosaur park that was created by artist E.V. Nelson.