The weather was great, the new outdoor booths were lovely, the kids were enchanted and the vendors filled all the halls. What more could we ask for as hundreds streamed through the gates to enjoy our lovely 2013 show.
Panning for gold the old fine way.
See the rest of the 2013 Gem and Mineral show in photos.
See our interview about the show live on CBS 47 morning TV:
See Gem Show for a copy of this year’s show program.
Reserve April 13th and 14th now to visit our annual Gem and Mineral show. See also jewelry, rock cutting and gold panning. Hear talks from eminent experts and visit the CA State Museum for free while you are there.
Sample Mariposite Jewelry from Yosemite Gifts
Learn that Mariposite is officially classified as a mineral in its own right, and not just a type of marble. Look for jewelry and loose cabachons of it and many other rocks at the show. Bring the whole family and let them learn about these wonders from mother earth and see what great artisans have done with them.
The dates are set, the venue is being layed out. We have new camp by your booth spaces right on the lawn (which rest of year is a real camp area). Speakers and events are planned. Kiddie attractions are set. The CA Gem and Mineral museum is open again with new display cases. The world’s biggest gold nugget, the Fricot nugget, is still safe and on display. We are planning to grow this show dramatically and in due course to restore it to its former eminence on the show circuit.
Now all we need is you to join us as an exhibitor. Indoor booths from 10X10 at ridiculously low prices. Visit Gem Show to download a Vendor Info Letter and Vendor Registration form.
Publicity and advertising planned for California and all neighboring states. Materials to be provided so you can promote your booth online and in print as well as the show in general. Free web links and mention on this site too.
A joint effort of the CA State, Gem, Mineral and Mining Museum, The Mariposa Gem and Mineral Club, and the CA State Gem, Mineral and Mining Museum Association.
For a comprehensive list of all fairs and festivals in California, visit My California Fairs & Festivals
The museum re-opened to the public on Friday Nov 9th and has resumed full operation. It will be open each week Thur thru Sun 10 to 4pm.
Despite the armed robbery last month, this still remains one of the biggest and best gem and mineral collections in the State, if not the country. You are invited to bring the family and see both the new and old displays.
Save the dates, and tell all other mineralogist, rock hounds, beaders, jewellers, friends and family to save the dates April 13 and 14, 2013. Once again the state museum, the museum association and the Mariposa Rock Club are combining forces to put on a great show for all. We are planning for it to be bigger and better than it has been in a while.. and slowly returning it to the prominence it once had.
Watch this site for all the details.
If you were planning on visiting the State Mineral Museum we are sorry to report that it is closed until at least Oct 15th. On Friday Sept 28th there was a robbery at the museum and the staff and police are still checking what was missing and what displays have to be repaired.
The robbers did not manage to get the big Fricot nugget.
Yesterday Gov Brown approved a number of resolutions, which together ensure that no more state parks will be closed at all, at least for two years.
So we are back in business full steam. School tours welcome. Private tours welcome.. and do come pan for gold with the youngsters every Sat at 11am or 3pm.
Looking ahead, our great mineral and gem show will be bigger and better than ever next year… so reserve the Apr 13 and 14th dates.
Packing is halted. The State has given the Mining and Mineral Museum a last minute reprieve from closing. The museum is open and ready for business and visitors again – at least on a month by month basis while a new agreement is worked out.
Do stop by and visit.. bring the friends, family and tourists.
The sun came out just in time for our annual Gem and Mineral show, and so did the vendors and community. In fact, look at this gold panning demonstration in the sunshine. See how there are 5 little pieces of gold at the top of the pan? Just like the show, no one went away disappointed. Lots more details and photos on Show Page.
Meanwhile Ron Iudice and his team have been hard at work finalizing paper work and insurance and financials and referrals, etc. etc. to provide the state as they consider allowing our association to take over running the museum and remove it from the list of State Parks to be shuttered.
One thing is for sure. There are a lot of passionate, serious people who would like to keep the collections on public display and they are prepared to step up and help. Secondly, the state is realizing what it will cost to keep and insure such a collection in a secure enough storage facility. They have now agreed to do their own appraisal, especially after we offered to come up with $10million insurance coverage. Apart from the priceless Fricot nugget, we have many rare and valua
ble pieces. See photo here of our first exhibit cabinet.
Bottom line is it costs them nothing to allow us to run the museum and keep the collection open to the public as long as we can use volunteer staff (of which we already have a number trained and experienced). To shutter the exhibit will cause them to have ongoing storage and maintenance and insurance costs that are non-trivial.