The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro, Oregon, houses a world-class collection recognized as the finest in the Pacific Northwest and one of the finest in the United States. The Museum building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its unique architectural style, natural stonework, and the extraordinary native Oregon woodwork found throughout the building.
Richard and Helen Rice constructed the building that would become the museum as their family home in 1952. Many rare Oregon woods, such as myrtle wood and quilted maple, was incorporated in the building of the house. As avid collectors, they built a gallery in their basement to display their personal mineral collection. One of the displays in the Basement is the Fred Van Sant Faceting Display which includes 213 of his gemstones.
Fred Van Sant (1917-2003) was an inventor of facet designs. According to the museum:
“Fred Van Sant was a man of many talents and surprises. Not only was he one of the world’s finest and most creative gem faceters, he was a poet, a musician, and an original, deep thinker on many subjects, especially regarding his philosophy on how man thought, and man’s purpose in the world.”
According to the display:
“Faceting is cutting and polishing of small flat surfaces or ‘facets’ at defined angles on a a transparent material or mineral in order to bring out the hidden beauty and brilliance that make it a gemstone.”
More Rock Museum
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Northwest Mineral Gallery: Washington Quartz (Photo Diary)
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Rock Museum: Rocks (Photo Diary)
Northwest Mineral Gallery: Stilbite (Photo Diary)