{"id":71268,"date":"2022-01-20T05:57:37","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T09:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/?p=71268"},"modified":"2022-01-27T14:50:54","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T18:50:54","slug":"everything-you-need-to-see-in-the-american-museum-of-natural-historys-new-hall-of-gems-and-minerals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/71268\/everything-you-need-to-see-in-the-american-museum-of-natural-historys-new-hall-of-gems-and-minerals\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need To See In The American Museum Of Natural History\u2019s New Hall Of Gems And Minerals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re a fan of museums and history, you\u2019ve surely heard about the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Conveniently located in the famous Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York, AMNH is recognized as one of the most popular and largest museums in the world. That\u2019s not a surprising fact, knowing that the site offers multiple permanent exhibitions where you could spend an entire day and still find your time not enough to see all the sights. (1)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a library inside, a planetarium, and over 33 million items to check out. If you\u2019re from NY and you\u2019ve been here countless times, you know that there\u2019s one particular showcase that\u2019s constantly been the apple of the eye among visitors and tourists\u2014The Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals. The exhibition dates as early as the 1970s, where you\u2019ll surely appreciate a massive and impressive collection of gems and minerals. (2)<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_71270\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-71270\" style=\"width: 741px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-71270 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/AMNH.jpeg\" alt=\"AMNH\" width=\"741\" height=\"486\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-71270\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-71270 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/AMNH.jpeg\" alt=\"AMNH\" width=\"741\" height=\"486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/AMNH.jpeg 741w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/AMNH-350x230.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/AMNH-696x456.jpeg 696w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/AMNH-640x420.jpeg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 741px) 100vw, 741px\" \/><\/noscript> Gems at the AMNH. Photo by license from Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><b>A whole new hall&nbsp;<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Four years ago, the attraction closed down for a much-needed renovation. Gems and minerals enthusiasts have been waiting patiently for the exhibit to reopen. Given the scope of the place, it took some serious reinventing before it could finally open its doors once again. Add to that the unexpected turn of events when the pandemic hit the entire world, pushing the reopening a little further than initially planned. Finally, though, in June 2021, the New Hall of Gems and Minerals was unveiled to the public and is ready to boast its latest transformation. (1)<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What you need to see in the AMNH<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether or not you\u2019ve seen the hall before, it pays to get yourself acquainted with the different attractions and sights you\u2019ll find there. Before you hit the road or plan for a weekend full of history and gem-related learnings, you might want to take some time and get to know the Mignone Hall of Gems and Minerals even more.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To help make it easier for you, here\u2019s a quick list of what you need to see in the hall as soon as you step inside:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>The Singing Stone&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Singing Stone is a gigantic block of sprightly green malachite and blue <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fossilera.com\/minerals-for-sale\/azurite\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">azurite<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Arizona. Quite a fascinating name for an exhibition, right? The Singing Stone was dubbed as such because of the shrilly and high-pitched sound it makes as the humidity changes each time the season and weather changes as if humming or singing. However, since it\u2019s been put in a controlled environment inside the museum, it has stopped making the sound, but the beauty of the stone remains. (3)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The massive rock weighed 7,725 pounds and was first exhibited in Chicago at the World\u2019s Fair in 1893. Given its spectacular size and vibrant colors, it\u2019s impossible to miss the attraction when going around the museum. So, if you\u2019re about to visit the AMNH soon, be sure to give this stone a good glance, and you\u2019ll find that it doesn\u2019t disappoint if you\u2019re hoping to be stunned and fascinated.&nbsp; (3)<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>The Sterling Hill Slab&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another highlight of the new Hall of Gems and Minerals is the slab of ore from the Sterling Hill Mine in New Jersey. The rock is a giant piece of marble hosting zincite, willemite, and franklinite. Apart from the stunning colors and textures, what\u2019s even more amazing about the panel is its mind-bending ability to showcase a display of dazzling lights that change and flicker depending on the overhead light being directed toward it. (2)(3)(5)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sterling Fluorescent Rock Panel is considered a centerpiece, especially when it\u2019s glowing in splendid shades of green and orange. If you\u2019re new to gems and minerals and you\u2019re wondering what rocks can make such a spontaneous display of colors when given the right lighting, you can check <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fossilera.com\/minerals-for-sale\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FossilEra.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for a collection of minerals that you could help point you in the right direction. Online resources can greatly help sustain your curiosity when it comes to gems and minerals that you can buy or collect. (2)(5)<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>The Star of India Sapphire&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gems and minerals enthusiasts have another world-class display to marvel at the new and improved hall\u2014the legendary <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/trevornace\/2016\/01\/10\/worlds-largest-blue-star-sapphire-found-worth-300-million\/?sh=f2d174b75d1d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Star of India<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. By far the largest blue star sapphire in the world, this 563-carat gem literally has the size of a golf ball. And it\u2019s not only the size that makes this star a legend since it\u2019s believed to have been formed about a billion years ago. Another thing that makes it intriguingly popular is that it\u2019s been stolen before from the American Museum of Natural History, sometime in 1964, but was thankfully recovered in 1965. (2)(4)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the brilliance and allure of the Star of India aren\u2019t enough to satisfy your craving for more sapphires yet, don\u2019t worry because the museum has many more to offer. Multiple gems and minerals glow in vibrant hues, clarity, and setting because of their chemical formation and composition. (4)<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>The Okavango Blue Diamond&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diamonds may be an ordinary sight these days, particularly in jewels and other accentuated accessories. However, you\u2019re in for a surprise if you\u2019re looking for something more spectacular than the usual brilliance of diamond you get to see on normal days. The Okavango Blue Diamond features a presentation like no other. This, thanks to its fancy deep blue color, is one of the rarest and most beautiful colors you can find in natural diamonds. (6)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond its attractive color and glitter, the rock from Botswana is also appraised as nearly flawless. You can find this jaw-dropping gem at the Melissa and Keith Meister Gallery inside the new Hall of Gems and Minerals. The Okavango is currently on loan from the company and was put on exhibit in the hopes of drawing more interest in the ethical and sustainable mining industry of Botswana. (6)(7)<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion: Everything is worth seeing&nbsp;<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regardless of whether it\u2019s your first time or not being in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/71162\/5-traveling-tips-for-first-time-travelers-to-new-york\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New York City<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, don\u2019t miss the opportunity to see the AMNH and everything it has to offer, notably the Mignone Hall of Gems and Minerals. There\u2019s truly no shortage of dazzle and sparkle when you decide to pay the site a visit. You can spend a day, a month, or even a year gaping at its displays and still find you don\u2019t have enough time to learn and appreciate everything. Now that it\u2019s back to serving the public, don\u2019t miss the chance to be stunned and educated.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>References<\/b><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAmerican Museum of Natural History Unveils Shining New Halls of Gems and Minerals As Visitors Continue to Return\u201d, Source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelandleisure.com\/attractions\/museums-galleries\/american-museum-of-natural-history-unveils-new-halls-of-gems-and-minerals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">h<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ttps:\/\/www.travelandleisure.com\/attractions\/museums-galleries\/american-museum-of-natural-history-unveils-new-halls-of-gems-and-minerals<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAn Exclusive First Look Inside the American Museum of Natural History\u2019s New Halls of Gems and Minerals\u201d, Source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.townandcountrymag.com\/leisure\/arts-and-culture\/a34921427\/american-museum-natural-history-new-hall-minerals-gems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">h<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ttps:\/\/www.townandcountrymag.com\/leisure\/arts-and-culture\/a34921427\/american-museum-natural-history-new-hall-minerals-gems\/<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA first look at the dazzling new Halls of Gems and Minerals at AMNH\u201d, Source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/newyork\/news\/a-first-look-at-the-dazzling-new-halls-of-gems-and-minerals-at-amnh-060321\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">h<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ttps:\/\/www.timeout.com\/newyork\/news\/a-first-look-at-the-dazzling-new-halls-of-gems-and-minerals-at-amnh-060321<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSee the \u2018Star of India,\u2019 decades after it was nabbed in a heist\u201d, Source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/amazing-gems-and-minerals.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">h<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ttps:\/\/www.livescience.com\/amazing-gems-and-minerals.html<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;\u201cGet a sneak peek of the American Museum of Natural History\u2019s new Halls of Gems and Minerals before they open this weekend\u201d, Source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.archpaper.com\/2021\/06\/sneak-peek-american-museum-of-natural-historys-new-halls-of-gems-and-minerals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">h<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ttps:\/\/www.archpaper.com\/2021\/06\/sneak-peek-american-museum-of-natural-historys-new-halls-of-gems-and-minerals\/<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOkavango Blue Diamond\u201d, Source: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">h<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ttps:\/\/www.amnh.org\/exhibitions\/okavango-blue-diamond<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAlmost Flawless\u201d: Okavango Blue Diamond And Botswana Mining Exhibit Comes To The AMNH\u201d, Source: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gothamist.com\/arts-entertainment\/almost-flawless-okavango-blue-diamond-and-botswana-mining-exhibit-comes-amnh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ht<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tps:\/\/gothamist.com\/arts-entertainment\/almost-flawless-okavango-blue-diamond-and-botswana-mining-exhibit-comes-amnh<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re a fan of museums and history, you\u2019ve surely heard about the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Conveniently located in the famous Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York, AMNH is recognized as one of the most popular and largest museums in the world. That\u2019s not a surprising fact, knowing that the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":150,"featured_media":71269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[829,1057,325],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-71268","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-culture-2","8":"category-museums-culture-2","9":"category-new-york"},"acf":[],"mv":{"thumbnail_id":71269,"thumbnail_uri":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/The-American-Museum-Of-Natural-History-350x230.jpeg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/150"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71268\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}