Group Policy & Museum Rules
The Rice Museum welcomes groups who wish to visit our galleries and grounds. For the best possible time, it is important for group leaders to read through our Group Policy and know what is expected of them prior to, and during their visit. They should share with attendees our Museum Rules to ensure a safe and enjoyable time for all. We encourage group leaders to stop by the Museum in advance to prepare for their group visit.
Group Policy
- Please fill out the reservation form accurately. If you are booking a school experience or tour this includes number of students, their ages/grade levels, and number of adults.
- TOURS ONLY: If you find closer to the tour date that the number of people will vary more than five from your initial reservation (even if you are still within the tour’s limit of maximum attendees), or you need to add or change ages/grade levels, you must let us know at least 48 hours in advance. If you do not, we reserve the right to switch you to an unguided experience.
- TOURS ONLY: Call or email us if you are running more than 15 minutes late for your tour. We will do everything we can to accommodate your group, but we may have to switch you to an unguided experience.
- For an experience or tour that includes students/children, there must be 1 chaperone for every 10 students/children. Please let us know if your group would like to request an accommodation for the chaperone to student/child ratio. Chaperone admission is included in the flat rate cost of the program.
- While at the Museum it is vital that you know who is in your group, including knowing the number of students/children and number of adults.
- For an experience or tour with over 25 people, or we have notified you, you are responsible for separating your group in two prior to entering the museum.
- TOURS ONLY: Please stay with your tour guide, unless otherwise instructed. If you do not, we reserve the right to switch you to an unguided experience.
- Please review Museum Rules with your group prior to the start of your tour.
- SCHOOL TOURS ONLY: Be a good role model for your students’ behavior and help your students learn. Tour guides will be posing questions. Please allow the students to answer the questions and refrain from answering yourself. Though we appreciate your enthusiasm, please help make the quality of the students’ experience our shared priority.
- We reserve the right to dismiss your group if you do not follow the experiences and tours policy and/or rules of the Museum.
EXTRA TIPS FOR AN ENJOYABLE VISIT
- TOURS ONLY: Plan to meet the tour guide for your program at the entrance to the gift store.
- Wear closed toed shoes if you plan to enjoy the trails and rock pile.
- Leave lunches, backpacks, and other large items in your car(s) or bus if possible.
- Bus Parking: Follow the “All Vehicles” sign up the middle driveway to our main parking lot, then turn right. We encourage full size buses to park at the far side of the gravel parking lot. Bus drivers are welcome to explore the museum independently at their group leader’s discretion. Please have the bus driver check in at the museum gift store for an admission sticker.
Museum Rules
- Stay with your group at all times.
- Do not bring food or drinks into the galleries. You are welcome to enjoy the outdoor picnic tables for food and drinks. Please note though, they are not covered.
- Use only pencils in the galleries.
- Please silence your cell phones, refrain from texting, and refrain from having conversations during a guided tour.
- Please do not lean on walls or exhibit displays.
- Indoor voices are the best. Remember, there may be other people coming to visit and enjoy the Museum just like you.
- No running, skipping, jumping inside the buildings. No running in the parking lot. It is ok to run around the museum lawns.
- Stay on paths or lawn areas on the museum grounds. Do not run through the flower beds.
- No climbing on outdoor rocks or BBQ pit. Surfaces can be slippery.
- Photographs are OK, but we ask that you do not take photographs or record video during presentations. You are welcome to do this when exploring galleries between presentations and activities. In general, you may take photographs and record video in the galleries as long as no flash, lights, or tripods are used. Photographs and videos may not be reproduced, distributed, or sold without permission from the Rice Museum.
- No umbrellas or large bags can be carried in the galleries. Please be aware that some galleries are small in size.
- Please enjoy yourselves and remember to ask questions!
We look forward to your visit. Please contact us if you have any questions about your unguided experience or guided tour, by emailing our team at info@ricenorthwestmuseum.org. Thank you for choosing to visit the Rice Museum!