Collections and Exhibits

Our collections of rocks, minerals, and fossils are a resource for exhibits and research. They are a TREASURE - icons of our natural heritage.  Among our paleontology collections feature remains of ancient Mesozoic sea life, dinosaur bones, and primitive baleen whales, while our geology collections include calcite, amethyst and a host of other minerals.

Exhibits

The lobby of the State Office Building in Northeast Portland includes a cooperative exhibit with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.  In it are 25 million-year-old fossil mammals from eastern Oregon, from our collections.  We are working, as well,  with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). The Earth Science lab at OMSI is an interactive exhibit in which volunteers prepare specimens, many of which are on loan from us.  These include a Triceratops dinosaur skeleton as well as a 30 million-year-old baleen whale skull. We have had displays at the Tigard and Seaside Libraries on the first dinosaur bone discovered in Oregon, discussed below. We also are now featuring a new exhibit, "Ancient Marine Mammals of Oregon".