Tag Archives: announcements

ALMA ROSE ON EXHIBIT IN TUCSON-See this iconic specimen and many more!

Posted on by
Reply
A photo of the Alma Rose rhodochrosite specimen, it is a black rock with gray and yellow crystal formations and 6 large rhodochrosite cubes. Featured on a black background.

The Alma Rose, Photo by Jeff Scovil

We’re headed to Tucson, Arizona for the biggest mineral event of the year! We’re proud to be the featured collector at the Westward Look Fine Mineral Show and and will also be exhibiting at the 2017 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show®.

 

The Alma Rose rhodochrosite specimen made the trip! See it and more of our amazing collection on Saturday, February 4, from 10AM-4PM, and meet & greet with Executive Director Julian C. Gray and Curator Leslie Moclock at:

The Westward Look Resort
245 East Ina Road
Tucson, Arizona 85704

Learn more about the Fine Mineral Show here.

The Alma Rose will also be exhibited at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® from February 9-12. Learn more here!

Tucson Convention Center
260 S Church Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701

If you can’t make it to Tucson and are headed to the museum, the Alma Rose will be back on exhibit in Hillsboro on 2/16/17. Even though we miss the Alma Rose, the Rice Museum is open our regular hours of 1PM-5PM Wednesday-Friday and 10AM-5PM Saturday-Sunday.

We’ve been bronzed!

Posted on by
Reply



GuideStar is the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations. We’ve taken ownership of our profile and have achieved bronze level participation

What that means is we’re starting the process of sharing who is involved in our museum, who supports us, and how we’re achieving our mission.

This helps us see how we measure up to other museums and share knowledge to help us all achieve our missions. It also helps our donors to see where their money is going and make informed gifts. Plus, we get this shiny badge to put on our website that lets everyone know we share that info!

We’re proud to have began this journey toward institutional transparency, and we’re not done here! We’re going for gold!

Support the Rice Museum on #GivingTuesday!

Posted on by
2

The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals needs your support and #GivingTuesday, November 29, 2016 is a great time to contribute.  Your tax deductible donation will help us continue the great programing and events at the museum.

With your help the Rice NW Museum has become recognized as one of the top 10 mineral museums in the United States.  We reach over 11,000 students annually with programs and tours designed to inspire future scientists from all walks of life, and our displays and activities attract nearly 27,000 visitors. Our staff educate young and old alike on the key role earth sciences play in our everyday life, and in our future well being.  None of this would be possible without you.

#GivingTuesday gifts go directly to supporting our staff in their efforts to expand educational programming, preserve and exhibit our fabulous mineral specimens and our beautiful historic house, and inspire thousands to pursue science.

This year, #GivingTuesday falls on November 29, 2016. We’ll spend that day encouraging our supporters to spend just a little time reflecting on how their gifts and talents can best be used to help the Rice NW Museum.  We’re asking for a little of your time as well. Please consider giving a gift to support our operations so that we can grow and share our passion with our community.

It’s easy, just grab your credit card and mouse and give to the museum by:

  • Donating to help keep the museum the best in the Pacific Northwest and globally
  • Become a member and join the Rice NW Museum family of supporters
  • Sponsor an event, rock or mineral, or an exhibit at the museum
  • Volunteer to help with the many projects and activities around the museum for a few hours or on a regular basis

After you give, join the #GivingTuesday conversation on November 29th. Share your thoughts online about the importance of giving back and see why others support the Rice Museum and are thankful for our mission.

Thank you for helping on this #GivingTuesday, and we look forward to seeing you often at the museum!

We need your help to #RockTheMuseum!

Posted on by
Reply

RTM-green

We’ve got great news—a generous donor has given us a matching grant challenge to raise funds for technology upgrades at the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals. Dr. Gene Meieran, an Intel Fellow and avid mineral collector, will match all public donations dollar-for-dollar up to $6000 to reach this goal by July 31, 2016.

Your contribution towards this challenge will go toward new computers and network systems critical for our daily operations, collections care, education, and outreach.

Every year, more than 10,000 school children from around Oregon and Washington tour the museum as part of their earth science programs. The museum also provides natural science outreach programs to over 30 schools and groups annually. Built in 1953 and incorporated as the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in 1996, the museum is now a Smithsonian Affiliate and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.  It is also the #1 attraction to visit in Hillsboro, Oregon, according to TripAdvisor.

You helped make those things happen. But we still have more work to do.

We need your financial support now more than ever.

This exciting matching challenge is a launch pad for a series of micro-campaigns that will arise throughout the year to help revitalize and #RockTheMuseum. The challenge focuses on our highest priority of needs: technology upgrades.

Currently, the museum’s computers are way past their shelf life. We need to upgrade the technology, network, and Internet infrastructure to be more efficient and secure and to improve our educational programs.

Our museum’s mission is to engage, inspire, and educate generations on the splendor and complexity of our Earth. Whether you contribute $25 or $2500, your donation will help the Rice Museum stay on the leading edge of science education.

Donate today with PayPal, mail a check, drop one off, or contact Julian Gray at the museum by July 31 to ensure we meet our matching donation goal. The Rice Northwest Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all contributions are tax-deductible.

2015 Summer Festival: A preview of our vendors, exhibitors, and food

Posted on by
Reply

The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals’ Annual Summer Festival is right around the corner on August 1-2, 2015, and we have a fantastic list of vendors, exhibits, and rock clubs coming to dazzle everyone.

We are honored to have exhibits and representatives of the following rock, gem, and mineral clubs at Summer Festival. They will be presenting a variety of demonstrations with activities for children and families as well.

Fred and Wilma Flintstone will be there the whole weekend with their Flintmobile giving “rides” to kids of all ages. Come get your photograph taken with these amazing living cartoon characters and rockhounds.

OMSI will have an exhibit exploring the science of rocks and minerals.

We have a wide range of vendors bringing their beautiful rocks, minerals, fossils, and gemstones for you to buy as well as demonstrations of lapidary and jewelry making.  Our exhibitors include the following:

  • Sharleen Harvey
  • “Days Past” with Marian Carroll
  • “Earthly Treasures” with Jim and Sherry Smith
  • “Fred and Wilma Flintstone” with Mitch Metcalf
  • “Global Mineral” with Krista Dennis
  • “Grand Products, Ltd” with Boris Chen and Ellen Law
  • “Nature’s Art” with Mikala Eslinger
  • “Rare Earth Exploration” with Austin Arp
  • Steve Falconbury
  • “The 3rd Rock” with Alise Lundmark
  • “Treasures by Tilgner” with Lamar and Merlia Tilgner
  • “Viper Lapidary” with Tiffany Jackson
  • “Art and Artifact” with Paul Foulon
  • “Lost Viking” with Eric Chilson
  • “Camelsmith Gems” with Len Rummel
  • “Martell and Martell Rock Shop” with Brian and Peggy Martell
  • “F-R-O-G Creations” with Sandy Metheany
  • “The Hummingbird Kisser” with Kimberly Brown

Food trucks by  Momo’s Hawaiian Shave Ice (Saturday) and Alvaros Tacos (Sunday) will be there for the hungry masses.  And we are thrilled to have Jerico Road joining us for some lively musical entertainment Sunday as well.

The fun starts Saturday, August 1, at 10 AM and goes through Sunday, August 2 at 5 PM. We look forward to seeing you there!

IMPORTANT ROAD CONSTRUCTION ALERT:  Please note that Helvetia Road will be closed August 8, 2015 because of construction.  Not to worry!  Just follow our detour instructions and be alert for detour signs to guide you to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals and the 2015 Summer Festival.