Tour Policies & Museum Rules
The Rice Museum welcomes groups who wish to visit our galleries and grounds. For the best possible experience, it is important for tour leaders to read through our Tour Policies and know what is expected of them prior to, and during their visit. They should share with participants our Museum Rules to ensure a safe and enjoyable time for all. We encourage tour leaders to stop by the Museum in advance to prepare for their group visit.
Tour Policies
- Please fill out the reservation form accurately. If you are booking a school tour this includes number of students, their ages/grade levels, and number of adults. 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.
- 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 school tours and/or groups with 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. We reserve the right to switch you to an unguided experience if the chaperone per student/child ratio is off.
- 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. If you have booked a large tour, or we have notified you, you will be responsible for separating your group in two prior to the tour. If you do not, we reserve the right to switch you to an unguided experience.
- Please accompany your group at all times. 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.
- For school tours, be a good role model for your students’ behavior and help your students learn. Docents 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 tour policies and/or rules of the Museum.
EXTRA TIPS FOR AN ENJOYABLE VISIT
- Plan to meet the docent for your program at the entrance to the gift shop.
- Wear closed toed shoes if you plan to enjoy the trails and rock pile activity after your tour.
- For school tours, leave backpacks and lunches on the school 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 the tour leader’s discretion. Please have the bus driver check in at the museum gift shop 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 during presentations. You are welcome to take photography when exploring galleries between presentations and activities. In general, you may take photographs in the galleries as long as no flash, lights, or tripods are used. Photographs 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 tour, by emailing our team at [email protected]. Thank you for choosing to visit the Rice Museum!