Category Archives: Events

The Rice Northwest Rock and Mineral Museum hosts a wide variety of events, festivals, workshops, and classes at the museum.

In February, join us at the museum for Mystery Mineral Day to learn more about geology and have your samples in to have experts identify. Thunder-Egg-Stravanganza is a one-day celebration of thundereggs (the Oregon state rock) held in spring of each year. Come hunt for and have your thundereggs opened by gem cutters. Summer Festival is held each year on the first full weekend of August. This two-day event features live music, food, educational demonstrations, and vendors selling minerals, cut and rough gemstones, jewelry, and more.

2019 Events
February 23, 2019 – Mystery Mineral Day
April 20, 2019 – Thunderegg-Stravaganza
August 3-4, 2019 – Summer Fest
August 10, 2019 – NW Fossil Fest by NARG

This is an archive of the latest events and activities at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals.

Welcome back to school from Rice NW Museum!

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Janice Crane

Field Trips:

Field trip registration for the 2018-2019 school year is open! Visit our For Teachers page to book now. Rice Museum field trips adhere to Next Generation Science Standards for elementary students. We take group reservations for up to 120 participants for tours in the mornings while we are closed to the public. Financial aid is available for low income schools thanks to the generosity of our donors. Dates are filling quickly, so book soon to ensure availability! Tour dates are available through July 2019.

New! Small School & Home School Tours:

New this year, we are excited to pilot a Small School & Home School Tour program! It’s fulfills all the same educational benchmarks as our tours for large school groups, but you can purchase individual spaces on the tour for smaller groups. This program is designed with small, nonprofit private schools, Montessori Going Out, and families that home school in mind. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

_MG_3721

Rice Museum’s Summer Fest – August 4 & 5, 2018

Posted on June 14, 2018 by Julian Gray

Our 15th annual Summer Fest 2018 will be at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals Saturday and Sunday, August 4-5, 2018. The hours are 10 AM – 5 PM. Admission is $6 for everyone ages 5 and up!

Summer Fest 2018 Poster

Geodes and other minerals and rocks for sale at vendor booths. The outdoor festival features a wide variety of rock, mineral, gem, jewelry, and fossil dealers. We will have food for purchase, live music, and plenty of fun family activities.

Rock clubs from around the region will be offering wonderful educational displays, demonstrations, and activities.

Come early and stay the whole day. The entire museum will be open during this event, so you can explore all our displays after browsing vendors’ tents and creating a “pet rock.” Bring a picnic lunch or enjoy the refreshments at the museum.

It’s a perfect event to spend with friends and family. Bring them all!

Win a Dream Trip to Tuscany!

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Janice Crane

Congratulations to our winner, Steve T.!

Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals is offering a chance for a dream trip of a lifetime to Tuscany, Italy. This vacation is valued at $5600.00.

Up to six people can stay in the Tuscan countryside in a three bedroom Private Villa, right in the heart of Tuscany. Property perfectly nestled among the rolling hills surrounding the ancient Etruscan town of Cortona, the ideal place to spend a getaway in the spirit of nature, beauty, relaxation and wine and food. You’ll be hosted by locals who can assist with all your needs.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Trip Includes:
– 7 nights in a 3 bedroom private countryside villa
– Welcome with your local assistant and personal introduction to Cortona
– Walking tour of Cortona with a professional guide
– Private wine tasting in traditional enoteca in the town center with professional sommelier
– Pre-arrival and in-house local English speaking concierge and booking services
– All visitor taxes, consumption fees (heating etc)

The winner will be announced at 8:00 PM during at our July 14, 2018 Benefit Dinner & Silent Auction. Your attendance is encouraged, but not required.

These tickets won’t last long since there are only 100 tickets available, so get yours today!

Restrictions:

– Valid September 15- May 15.
– Subject to availability when you book (no more than 9 months in advance of
travel). NOT valid Christmas or Easter break.
– Vacation is transferable.
– Must book by May 31, 2019.
– Trip does not include airfare.

Volcano Day is June 2, 2018!

Posted on May 18, 2018 by Leslie Moclock

New this year, we are partnering with the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory to bring you science and family fun at Volcano Day at the Rice Museum.

Volcano Day 2

On Saturday, June 2, 2018, CVO scientists will give short talks throughout the day on our Cascades volcanoes and volcano science. Have a question about the volcanoes in your backyard? Wondering what’s going on with the eruption in Hawai’i? Ask the experts!

Hands-on activities for all ages will take place in our galleries and on the lawn. And don’t miss Trash-Cano, the explosive eruption demonstration that will happen after each talk!

Local collector Mike Medvec will also be displaying his extensive collection of memorabilia from the famous 1980 eruption at Mt. St. Helens.

Don’t miss the fun! Event runs 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Included with regular museum admission.

2018 Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction Tickets on sale now!

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Janice Crane

The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals is hosting a benefit dinner. Please join us July 14, 2018 at 5:00 PM as we honor Mary and the late Dennis Murphy for their contributions and many years of support of the Rice Museum. Visit our event page to purchase tickets.

Dr. Terry C. Wallace, Jr., Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory and president of Los Alamos National Security, LLC, will give a presentation about the creation of gold in the universe through the collision of neutron stars. Other evening highlights will include a silent auction, a special appeal (paddle raise) to support our educational programs, a tribute to the late Rudy Tschernich, and dinner from The Hive Catering Co.

Tickets are $100 per seat. The event will take place at the Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center in Hillsboro.


Margaret & Bob McMillan	William H. & Diana Dameron	Gail & Jim Spann
	Sharleen Rice Harvey & Family
Bruce Carter	Fine Mineral Show	Cedar House Media
Gene & Roz Meieran	Build My Baby Blanket	The Hive Catering, Co.
	Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce

Sponsorship Opportunities are available!
Sponsor a table to list your business on this page.

Mystery Mineral Day- February 24, 2018!

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Janice Crane

Mystery Mineral Day is happening Saturday, February 24, 2018 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the museum.

A participant at Mystery Mineral Day 2017 had her treasures identified by Bruce.

A panel of experts will be ready and waiting for you to bring your unknown rocks, minerals, fossils, gems, and potential meteorites for identification.

Have you always wondered what to call that cool crystal you picked up on a hike that one day? Did you inherit a collection, but it’s missing some labels? Do you think you may have found a fossil bone or a rock from outer space? Our experts are volunteering at this event just for you, so don’t be shy. Come on by!

This event is included with general admission. Admission is $12.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors, and $8.00 for students (ages 5-17) and veterans/active military. Children 4 and under are free.

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Janice Crane

Rice NW Museum will be open special hours for Thanksgiving Week!

We will also be having extra public tours! If you’re here Friday, Saturday, or Sunday at 2:00, meet your museum host at the Northwest Gallery for a guided tour of the museum.

Hours for Thanksgiving Week:

Monday, 11/20/2017: Closed
Tuesday, 11/21/2017: Closed
Wednesday, 11/22/2017: Open: 1:00 PM- 5:00 PM
Thursday, 11/23/2017: Closed in observance of Thanksgiving
Friday, 11/24/2017: Open: Holiday Hours, 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
•  Hosted Tour 2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Saturday, 11/25/2017: Open: 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
•  Hosted Tour 2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Sunday, 11/26/2017: Open: 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
•  Hosted Tour 2:00 PM- 3:30 PM

2017 Northwest Fossil Fest at the Rice Northwest Museum

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Janice Crane

The Northwest Fossil Fest sponsored by the North America Research Group (NARG) will take place at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals on Saturday, August 12, 2017, from 10 AM to 5 PM.

The theme for the 12th Annual Northwest Fossil Fest is “Fishing the Past!”

The event is free for families to learn about fossils, fossil collecting, preparation, identification, hands on demonstrations, and educational displays. Dr. Edward Davis, University of Oregon will talk on fossil fish from Oregon, including the sabertooth salmon.

Paleontologists will be on hand identify fossils and to show kids of all ages how to clean and prepare fossils. There will be lots of hands on activities and this is a great event for families and fossil fans. Attendance for the Fossil Fest includes free admission to the museum.

For more information and up-to-the-minute information see Northwest Fossil Fest.

nwff17a

Summer Festival is Back!

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Janice Crane

Our 14th annual Summer Fest 2017 will be at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals Saturday and Sunday, August 5-6, 2017. The hours are 10 AM – 5 PM. Admission is $5 for everyone ages 5 and up!

Summer Festival Full Page Flyer

Rock clubs from around the region will be offering wonderful educational displays, demonstrations, and activities.

It’s a perfect event to spend with friends and family. Bring them all!

Meteorite and Family Fun Day 2017

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Leslie Moclock

2017_meteorite

Get ready for this year’s Meteorite and Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 27! We will be welcoming Dick Pugh of the Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory (Portland State University) to give his fascinating talk, “Great Balls of Fire!” at 11 AM and 1 PM. Learn exciting facts about meteorites, fireballs, and outer space. Dick will also bring his large collection of meteorites for visitors to touch and hold.

Think you’ve found a meteorite? Bring it in and have Dick examine it to be sure.

Family activities will also take place throughout the day. Children and adults alike can make impact craters like those on the moon and figure out how our solar system formed.

This event is included with regular museum admission.

Schedule of events:

10:30 AM — Activity: Building the planets (NW Gallery)

11:00 AM — Talk: Dick Pugh, Great Balls of Fire! (Lecture Room)

12:30 PM — Activity: Impact craters (NW Gallery)

1:00 PM — Talk: Dick Pugh, Great Balls of Fire! (Lecture Room)

2:00 PM — Tour: 90-minute museum tour (NW Gallery)

2:30 PM — Activity: Building the planets (NW Gallery)

3:30 PM — Activity: Impact craters (NW Gallery)