INCLUDES VIDEO TOUR IN ULTRA HD | Step inside OMSI’s new climate gallery, and meet the former CEO whose name is now on the hall …
At the grand opening, guests visiting OMSI’s new Nancy Stueber Natural Sciences Hall, enter through a striking sculpture of reclaimed yellow-cedar mass timber created in partnership with Timberlab.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
As visitors stepped into the new Nancy Stueber Natural Sciences Hall at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) on Friday afternoon, March 24, the museum’s longtime former leader described the space as both a milestone, and a promise for the future.
The new hall, named for the museum’s former President and CEO, serves as OMSI’s latest permanent gallery – focusing on climate, community resilience, and Oregon stories.
Visitors first pass through a sweeping curved entry to “Climate of Change,” which introduces the themes of the new Nancy Stueber Natural Sciences Hall at OMSI.
At the grand opening, Nancy Stueber reflected, “I’ve been at OMSI for almost 40 years, and one of the huge milestones was moving from over by the zoo in Washington Park to this space on SE Water Avenue – and everything that has followed.”
Visitors take in this immersive multimedia experience developed by Tellart, which explores the interconnectedness of people and the natural world.
The new hall houses “Climate of Change”, an exhibition that examines the relationship between people and the environment, and highlights Oregon communities responding to climate change.
The exhibition features immersive multimedia elements, short films on place-based solutions, a reimagined Science on a Sphere® installation, murals by local artists, and hands-on exhibits that connect climate issues to everyday life.
Take our video tour of this fascinating new addition to OMSI:
OMSI’s path of growth
Stueber emphasized that the move from the old site to Inner Southeast Portland allowed far more people to reach the museum, provided far more space, and helped set up the expansion that followed.
“Certainly, one of our big accomplishments was retiring the debt that came from building that building. It took a number of years, but we’re really pleased that OMSI is on very strong financial footing now, and doing well.”
At the opening of the exhibition, Nancy Steuber chats with guests.
That financial stability, she added, allowed OMSI to assemble neighboring properties and plan the “OMSI District,” a mixed-use riverfront development expected to include a waterfront education park, affordable housing, and space for education and cultural partners.
“We were able to acquire land here next to the museum for future development. It will be the new ‘OMSI District’,” Stueber explained. “That will be an endowment for the museum of the future, because OMSI will hold the land and lease it to others who will develop it, and that income will be part of what keeps OMSI thriving for many, many years to come.”
Visitors exploring OMSI’s new “Climate of Change” gallery through the interactive exhibits, while discussing how climate science connects to everyday life.
Inside the newly dedicated hall, “Climate of Change” focuses on regional stories and partnerships. Exhibits draw on contributions from community organizations and Tribal partners working on local climate solutions, along with energy-focused interactive exhibits developed with Portland General Electric. The gallery looks at how climate change is affecting communities, and highlights projects that seek to build resilience and reduce emissions at the local level.
Stueber also welcomed OMSI’s increasing emphasis on collaborative and accessible exhibits – including bilingual content, and co-created projects with community groups – a direction continued in the exhibit. The climate gallery draws on stories from partners around Oregon, connecting visitors’ museum experience with work that’s already happening in farms, forests, rivers, and neighborhoods.
“OMSI is on such a great trajectory,” she remarked. “In addition, OMSI continues to just expand programs, not only here in Portland, but all over the state, all over the region, and through our camps and traveling programs. So, there’s so much going on, it’s hard to encapsulate it in just a few words.”
This part of the exhibit is a human-size maze-like game called ‘Climate Action Heroes’.
Exhibit designed and built inhouse
Only after Stueber finished greeting visitors did Creative Director Ciera Iveson step forward to describe how the new hall came together. She remarked that the entire exhibition was conceived and produced by OMSI’s inhouse team. “We’re so proud. This whole exhibit was designed and built by our team here at OMSI, and so we have a very talented team of exhibit designers and developers and fabricators who all played a role.”
Iveson went on to say that the concept for the hall grew out of years of community conversations – and a desire to recognize Stueber’s leadership. “Nancy has been such a visionary leader for us all these years — I believe it’s 38, and then 20 as President – and so when time came to redo this hall, I know we wanted to make sure we honored her in that legacy.
OMSI’s Creative Director Ciera Iveson describes how the exhibition came to be.
“The concept for this hall first came about five years ago,” she told East Portland News. “We did ‘listening sessions’ with our community, and we heard that one area they really wanted to hear from OMSI about was climate science and climate change, so that kicked off a five-year process in which we worked with over 15 partners on the development of this hall.”
As she looked around the finished space, Iveson emphasized that the team hoped visitors would leave with both “context and agency”. “We hope that they come away with a sense of active hope, and with tangible things they can do to participate in our future together, learning about climate science basics, and helping to spark innovation on what they might do in their own communities.”
Artwork by local artistes portray themes of community and connection.
The Nancy Stueber Natural Sciences Hall featuring “Climate of Change” is now open, and is included with standard OMSI admission or membership. OMSI is located at 1945 S.E. Water Avenue, 97214. For more information, see their website: CLICK HERE.
© 2026 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™
