Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals
Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals
4.5
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals houses a world-class collection recognized as the finest in the Pacific Northwest and one of the best in the nation. Located just west of Portland, Oregon, in Hillsboro, the Museum showcases not only fine rocks and minerals, but also fossils, meteorites, lapidary art, and gemstones from both the Pacific Northwest and all around the world.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
188 reviews
Excellent
142
Very good
42
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
0
rollingstoneman
Golden, Colorado, USA102 contributions
Sep 2021
Very well-organized private museum, emphasizing Oregon rocks, minerals, and fossils. LOTS of beautiful petrified wood slabs ! Also mineral crystals from the U.S. and elsewhere. Gift shop also.
Allow 60 to 90 minutes to see all the rooms,
It's not open every day, so check out the website for days & hours.
Allow 60 to 90 minutes to see all the rooms,
It's not open every day, so check out the website for days & hours.
Written October 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scott-Melody
Sandy, UT287 contributions
Jul 2021
When we first pulled up, I thought, "what a waste." It just looked like a house with a small building to the side of it.
But, when we went in and paid, we walked into the side building I was amazed.
There were hundreds of beautiful specimens of rocks, minerals, and things of all kinds.
They even had a collection of gold specimens that was fun to see.
I've been to lots of mineral exhibits but the Rice family collected a beautiful collection, better than many large museums.
It is way out in the country. The museum used to be the home of the Rice family and then it was converted into a museum.
$10 for seniors, $12 for adults, $8 for students.
There are also things for the kids to do and try. The kids had fun.
There is a gift shop where you can buy small rocks and minerals that was also fun for the kids.
Definitely worth the drive and the cost.
But, when we went in and paid, we walked into the side building I was amazed.
There were hundreds of beautiful specimens of rocks, minerals, and things of all kinds.
They even had a collection of gold specimens that was fun to see.
I've been to lots of mineral exhibits but the Rice family collected a beautiful collection, better than many large museums.
It is way out in the country. The museum used to be the home of the Rice family and then it was converted into a museum.
$10 for seniors, $12 for adults, $8 for students.
There are also things for the kids to do and try. The kids had fun.
There is a gift shop where you can buy small rocks and minerals that was also fun for the kids.
Definitely worth the drive and the cost.
Written July 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
14greentrees
Hillsboro, OR30 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
I loved my visit to this museum. I've lived in Hillsboro my whole life but had never been. It was fun and I loved learning. It's surprising how much they fit on the property! My favorite two rooms were the blacklight room and the petrified wood room. The fossils were also super fun and I enjoyed the Oregon and northwest collections. The grounds were also beautiful and worth some time in the garden on a nice day. I would highly recommend a visit. My boyfriend and I spent around 2 hours, but you could spend much less or much more and still have a great visit.
Written May 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MikaLeigh77
Portland, OR84 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
Took our 11-year old kiddo to this year's ThunderEgg hunt for Easter, and he had a blast selecting and having his thundereggs cut onsite, and also buying an uncut geode that he was able to help crank/crack open!
Although the event was sold out and busy, the volunteers kept things nicely organized, and even the parking was convenient.
Great experience, and we'd visit again some time!
Although the event was sold out and busy, the volunteers kept things nicely organized, and even the parking was convenient.
Great experience, and we'd visit again some time!
Written May 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
garryej
Hillsboro, OR144 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
This place has been featured on "Atlas Obscura". A hidden gem just off of OR26 highway! There's even a huge pile of geodes and other treasures for kids to sort through and keep. Well displayed collection, including a fairly large meteorite!
Written August 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sandyldavis
Hillsboro, OR66 contributions
Jan 2018 • Family
Never cared about rocks? You will after viewing the huge rock and mineral collection at the Rice Museum. And it's housed in the ultimate Mid-Century abode.
Written April 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa C
Portland, OR198 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
This was well worth the visit -- a place we'd known about for years before finally getting around to seeing it. We had no idea there was so much to see here! I don't know what I enjoyed more: the fossils and rocks, or the well-preserved MCM (Mid-Century Modern) family home that has since been converted entirely into a museum.
Our grandchildren who have diverse interests both found lots to enjoy here: a fossil room with an incredibly preserved baby dinosaur (form intact because it was killed and preserved by volcanic ash), the fluorescent rock room, beautiful gemstones and crystals, petrified wood, agate slices, and more! The displays include some well-designed explanatory materials (how are geodes formed?) Be sure not to miss the guided talks and tours from the knowledgeable curator!
Admission can be a bit pricey, but do consider applying it to an annual membership.
Our grandchildren who have diverse interests both found lots to enjoy here: a fossil room with an incredibly preserved baby dinosaur (form intact because it was killed and preserved by volcanic ash), the fluorescent rock room, beautiful gemstones and crystals, petrified wood, agate slices, and more! The displays include some well-designed explanatory materials (how are geodes formed?) Be sure not to miss the guided talks and tours from the knowledgeable curator!
Admission can be a bit pricey, but do consider applying it to an annual membership.
Written March 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
68KAT
Portland, OR61 contributions
Oct 2017
I am crazy about rocks!! What a fabulous place! I spent 2 1/2 hours there and Icould have been there longer. There were also some fossils that were so intriguing !! If you have even a slight interest in rocks you must stop in. There is a small shop on site that sells jewelry and polished agates and rocks. I enjoyed playing with the displays, I wanted to buys handfuls of everything!!
Written October 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Docster66
SoCal58 contributions
Jun 2017 • Family
Okay so on our last visit I saw the sign for this rock-mineral museum. Given I am in geology, it peaked my interest, So in June, my Wife and I found the time to hunt the place down---it is in Hillsboro on a road that parallels Route 26 BUT the road, unlike most frontage roads, did not intersect the major roads nearby. So there is a road that gets you there.
In any event the museum itself is neat, in that it is in the original owner's house. Lots of fossils, very rare/beautiful minerals, petrified wood, agate "up the kazoo" if you will, and much more. I forget the charge to enter but it was worthwhile. It was a bit dusty inside but we noticed they were advertising for cleaning people.
Despite this being a hidden treasure, there were, to my surpise about 10 carloads of people with kids there. Local schools visit them also. So worth the time if you enjoy rocks, minerals, fossils, etc.
In any event the museum itself is neat, in that it is in the original owner's house. Lots of fossils, very rare/beautiful minerals, petrified wood, agate "up the kazoo" if you will, and much more. I forget the charge to enter but it was worthwhile. It was a bit dusty inside but we noticed they were advertising for cleaning people.
Despite this being a hidden treasure, there were, to my surpise about 10 carloads of people with kids there. Local schools visit them also. So worth the time if you enjoy rocks, minerals, fossils, etc.
Written July 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CruiseDirectorAmy
Portland, OR51 contributions
Jun 2017 • Family
This museum has a wonderful collection of fossils, gold from all over the world, crystals, agates, petrified woods, gems... Also a nice place outside in backyard to picnic if weather permits. There is no cafe. There is a gift shop and youth can also pick a rock to take home with them included in price of admission.
Written June 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hours on Saturday and sunday?
jdana130
Houston, Texas, United States142 contributions
10A-5P Saturday and Sunday
dradnitzer
Nacogdoches, TX
how much is the admission fee for adults?
clogan32
Quilcene, WA72 contributions
$10 per person
limhelium
Bukit Mertajam, Malaysia
Are visitor allowed to take photos in the museum?
BearHugger
Hillsboro, OR36 contributions
yes
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Claim your listingRice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals
- Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals is open:
- Thu - Thu 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Fri - Sun 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals:
- (3.74 mi) Hampton Inn & Suites Portland/Hillsboro-Evergreen Park
- (3.70 mi) Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Hillsboro, Oregon
- (7.30 mi) Best Western University Inn & Suites
- (6.26 mi) Homewood Suites by Hilton Hillsboro / Beaverton
- (6.32 mi) Hilton Garden Inn Portland / Beaverton
- Restaurants near Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals:
- (1.51 mi) A.B.V. Public House
- (3.27 mi) Copper River Restaurant & Bar
- (2.95 mi) Vivi's Vietnamese Noodle House
- (2.15 mi) Helvetia Tavern
- (4.98 mi) Gyro House Mediterranean Grill
Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals Information
Excellent Reviews | 142 |
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Very Good Reviews | 42 |
Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals Photos | 129 |