NOTE: TIME AND PLACE CHANGE The event begins at 7PM at the Rice Northwest Museum NOT at OMSI
Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Mineral’s Executive Director, Julian Gray will be speaking at the July 7, 2015, Columbia Willamette Faceter’s Guild on the history of the museum founders.
The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals began as the personal collection of two avid rockhounds: Richard and Helen Rice. Richard and Helen’s love of rock collecting began on Agate Beach, were they discovered that ordinary pebbles could be turned into beautiful gemstone treasures. They collected rocks and minerals and learned to polish gems. They also became active in local and regional rock clubs. But their legacy is the museum that bears their name. Richard and Helen built their dream home with built in display cases for their collection and rooms dedicated to polishing gems and making jewelry. The museum’s director, Julian Gray, will take you on a visual tour of the Rice NW Museum and the unique building that houses this remarkable collection.
The event will be at 7PM at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro. 7:30PM at OMSI in Portland, Oregon. For more information, see the guild’s site.
Julian Gray is a geologist, former curator of the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, Georgia, and co-author of the upcoming book, Minerals of Georgia. He holds a Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees in geology from Georgia State University. He relocated to Oregon in 2014 to take the reins of the Rice Northwest Museum.