Homecoming at the Rice: Celebrating Sharleen Harvey’s Full-Time Return
Sharleen Harvey, Co-Founder of the Rice Museum. Photo by Shawn Linehan.
The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals was delighted to host a special private gathering to welcome co-founder Sharleen Harvey back to Oregon full time. After many years of splitting her time between Oregon and Arizona, friends, supporters, and members of the museum community came together to celebrate this exciting new chapter and to honor Sharleen’s lasting impact on the museum she helped create alongside her parents, Richard and Helen Rice.
Newly renovated picnic area. Photo by Shawn Linehan.
The event was held in the museum’s newly renovated picnic area, where guests enjoyed paved walkways, inviting new pavilions, and a relaxed summer atmosphere. The refreshed space provided the perfect setting for conversation, connection, and reflection on the many ways Sharleen’s generosity, storytelling, and passion for minerals have helped shape the museum since its founding.
Guests and staff member, Angela Piller, discussing a display. Photo by Shawn Linehan.
Attendees shared stories, laughter, and heartfelt appreciation—many recalling Sharleen’s own favorite tales from the museum’s early days, like the time her father returned from a rainy Bisbee, Arizona, mining trip glowing with excitement over a stunning azurite slice that would become one of Sharleen’s most treasured specimens. Guests were treated to delicious refreshments generously provided by The Hive Catering, adding to the welcoming and celebratory spirit of the afternoon.
Food provided by The Hive Catering. Photo by Shawn Linehan.
We are grateful to Sharleen for her continued support and are thrilled to have her back in Oregon full time. It was a joy to celebrate alongside her and so many who value her friendship, legacy, and commitment to the Rice Museum.
Board Member Judith McGee, Co-Founder Sharleen Harvey, and Executive Director Kimberly Vagner. Photo by Shawn Linehan.
