February 28, 2020 at 6:22 pm









The museum of Natural History will soon exhibit some of the world’s largest gems, including a 12-foot amethyst









The American Museum of Natural History is reopening The Allison Mignone Hall of Gems and Minerals this fall.

While it’s been part of the New York museum since the 19070’s, it’s been closed since 2017 for renovations.

The 11,000-square-foot exhibit will reopen in time to celebrate the renowned museum’s 150th birthday.

With interactive and touchable displays, this is a must-see for museum-goers. It’s a high-tech tribute to Mother Nature.

According to a press release, the redesigned exhibit will tell the story of “how the vast diversity of mineral types arose on Earth … and how humans have used them throughout the millennia for personal adornment, tools, and technology.”

So, what’s new?

The hall will showcase two of the world’s largest amethyst geodes. The quartz crystals, from Uruguay, and are 12 and 9-feet tall. The larger one is over 9,000 pounds.

Shades of orange and green glow on a wall-sized panel of rock, for a luminous walk through the gallery.



A 9-pound garnet, believed to provide safety, self-empowerment and strength, is also on display. The giant stone – aka the “subway stone” –was found under the streets of Manhattan in 1885.

The 563-carat “Star of India” sapphire and the 632-carat Patricia emerald, two of the museum’s most impressive gems, will still be available to the public, just as they were prior to its closure in 2017.

Stunning pieces of jewelry by Cartier, Bulgari and Tiffany will also be on display in the redesigned “Beautiful Creatures” exhibit.

This looks to be a rocking good time and one I’ll be sure not to miss.







