Reviews of Gem & Mineral Museum-Franklin (Museum)

David Heath

Very informative.

Mark Marich

Very nice museum and informative staff.Highly recommend.

Alan Marr

Awesome great collection of local and world gem's and other interesting rocks and Indian artifacts

Chancey Forkey

Awesome displays, very friendly staff

Alan Hall

This is remarkable gem of a little museum is housed in an old jail near the center of the charming town of Franklin. The collection of minerals, fossils, petrified wood and Native American artifacts, from North Carolina, the U.S. and around the world, is huge and diverse. Volunteer Al Pribble, a member of the Gem & Mineral Society of Franklin, NC, greeted us and enthusiastically shared his wealth of knowledge about the displays and local history of mines and mining. The automated display of florescent minerals is excellent. Admission is free, and it is well worth your time.

Gary Baker

Kinda neat place for a museum!

Gedeon Preobrazhenskiĭ

We have been coming to this place since we were kids. Every visit you see something new and the staff is very passionate and knowledgeable. We love bringing guests downtown to see the museum and everyone always has a great time. For such a small place, it always is remembered. Here is the history of the Museum from the Gem and Mineral Museum website: In 1972 a small building in the Down Town area of Franklin, NC was standing abandoned. The club’s 2nd president brought before the County Commission a request to open a Museum in the building. This museum would not only house rock specimens but educate and benefit the community. On January 2, 1973 the club was granted permission to be the new occupants of the “Old Macon County Jail”. After 12 months of fund raising and over 2000 hours of volunteer work, the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum opened it doors to the public on May 25, 1974. An Open House was held on June 30, 1974 with over 200 in attendance. In just the first 5 months of the museum’s opening 3,207 people had signed the Guest Book. These visitors were from 41 of America’s United States and 4 Foreign Countries. In the second 5 months the museum was open we had 3,947 sign the Guest Book; this time 45 States were represented and 12 Foreign Countries. Over 7,154 people went through the museum in 10 months. In 1990 the club was given a 25 year lease to operate the museum.

Brandon Soldner

We stopped at the gem museum after a day of rock hounding (gem mining) in the area. The staff was amazing and were great with the kids. Explaining disllays, talking about different gems. The collection is diverse including sections on fossils, minerals from each state and many other sections. As others posted this museum is in the old jail. Really cool renovated venue. Our family really enjoyed our time and recommend if you are in the area to stop by.

Philip Porter

So informative

FLETCHER SESSOMS

This morning my husband and I went to the Gem and Mineral Museum in Franklin. We were honored to be the first visitors for the new season. We were treated like royalty...even to having our picture taken. I can honestly say we have never been to such a complete and friendly museum. We own Ye Olde Rock Shoppe in Hollywood, Fl and make it a point to try to hit all the gem and mineral museums on our travels.. Elena and Tom Marsh made us feel so much at home and answered all our questions. The members we were introduced to couldn't have been nicer. A wonderful experience for us and we will definitely recommend the Museum to everyone coming this way. Thanks so much...Fletch and Audrey Sessoms

Tom Parker

Great place for anyone having any interests in rockhounding, gemstones, Indian artifacts and local history.

Alexander Dixon

Astounding collection, nifty location, friendly mostly volunteer staff.

Nathan Thompson

Knowledgeable and kind staff!

ambertreesap

This little museum is an absolute gem. It's completely free to visit and the volunteers are both friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. There are gem and mineral specimens from both the worldwide and local stages, including a really fantastic fluorescent room.

Robert Kemper

Home of the Franklin Gem and Mineral Society, and one of the biggest and best free mineral museums you'll ever find.

Dana McKee

What a friendly and informative place! They boast a beautiful collection, much larger than I expected for the size of the building.

Eda Mena

The information given about the gems was great. It really is an educational place to go and learn, but it's not only for grownups but children as well. The jail that it had or that had been there years ago was awesome, in the sense that we can have an idea of how many men fitted in one room and just the space and conditions those who broke the law had to undergo there.

Walt Preston

Love this place. So much to see and buy.

Justin Lovett

Great place to learn about the different gems found around the county and world either they be Gems, Fossils and Native American Artifacts. You can also check out the old jail upstairs. Theirs more gems and fossils up there as well.

Dianna Locke

Excellent exhibit of fossils and minerals from around the world.

Nancy McShane

Had a wonderful time at Franklin’s Gem and Mineral Museum! Going back, because I didn’t have time to go into the Fluorescence room or see upstairs! Here are some of my favorites!

Brianna VanAller

beautiful stones and bones when you're there don't forget to visit the glow room and flip the switch and when you leave flip it back off and watch as the glow fades in the left of the display

Leah Robinson

There's a surprising amount to see in this little jail. The ladies working when we went did a great job of grabbing our attention right off and showing my 7yo around. It was worth the treacherous trip from Cashiers.

A Woogie's Love

Great experience! Found some gem stones and they were so helpful in identifying them. So kind and informative.

Margaret Erwin

Very interesting to visit and friendly owners.

David Eve Thorpe

Very interesting. Staff was helpful and engaging.

Carroll Emerson

It's free and in the old jail. A beautiful display of rocks and gems. The staff was super friendly. Be sure to see the dark room and the fluorescent rocks. Very cool!!

J D

Was really fun and staff is super helpful and knowledgeable.

Amy Picciano

Very beautiful display of gems and minerals from around the world! Free to visit. A must see when you are in Franklin, NC.

Traea Gervais

Great little spot

Stefan Smith

Unexpected find

Kimberly Boddie

Had a blast! Very informative group of ladies! Will be going back

Ray Wenner

Employees are great and mine themselves at local mines

Jennifer Bayler-Daugherty

Came in with a large petrology group over the weekend and everyone was very kind and welcoming!

Amy Merritt

Worth visiting. Very interesting. Staff very friendly. Was the old jail.

Jesse Scott

I enjoyed coming here on a family vacation. Be prepared because it is a very small space! Very interesting history and the museum is ran by local volunteers who can easily answer any questions you may have. It use to be a jail for the town many years ago and is a historical landmark. Overall a enjoyable experience.

Len C

Surprisingly interesting!

Russell Boyd

This gem museum is housed in an old jail. it seems appropriate for safeguarding precious stones. The folks are very, very nice and show a genuine interest in helping you understand how gems and minerals are mined and polished into real keepsakes. My grandkids and wife love visiting the museum whenever we are in the Franklin area.

Honestly Loyal22

We had a lot of fun and came home with several beautiful stones. Panning for the first time was a blast!

Alice Ying Nie

We loved the crystal museum! The people that work there are super sweet and there are so many stones/rocks/crystals. It is small but jam packed with plenty of things to discover. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Andy Seale

Josh was knowledgeable, professional, and friendly. And I had fun!

Abigail James

Amazing display and collection! Even my kindergartner was mesmerized with all the colors and especially the ultraviolet light display. Staff was super friendly and they had a good selection of stuff in gift shop. AND THE MUSEUM IS ALL FREE! Bonus that you get to tour the old jail at the same time, and see some lovely graffiti. Convenient location near good food and the beautiful gardens downtown. Yay Franklin.

Sundee Proctor

Small, but very much worth a visit! Kind, knowledgeable people and very cool items on exhibit. Much more than just rocks. An entire room dedicated to Native American artifacts as well. They also have a state-by-state display of what you can expect to be prevalent in your area, plus some international specimens. Glad we stopped!

Sean Price

Probably the best prices in the gift shop of anywhere in Macon County. Friendly staff

Adam Aschenbrenner

Free and in the old jail house. My kids loved it

Peg Humphrey

Wow. So impressed of how rocks and fossils were displayed. Very informative people that make you feel welcome

Gayle Robinson

A well done collection of gems, fossils, stones, geodes, minerals,shells, Native artifacts. Offers classes. Handmade jewelry and gift items. Closes at 4 p.m.Closed Sunday's.

Brian W

Lots of interesting goodies! Everything from rocks, gems, even rocks that glow under black lights!!! Also, it's located in the former jailhouse for Franklin and some former inmates even signed the jail

Leonard Pipitone

It was wonderful. The hosts were great. The exhibits we're well displayed.

Chris Clark

They really have packed this old jail with some amazing samples and exhibits!

Sri Prabha

Great educational place with many samples and Marsha will take you to mountains nearby for rockhounding. Excellent!

Mary Nally

Made trip to visit. They were closed. Nothing on website about being closed.

Linda Holmes

Fantastic collection of gems! Great bargains at the gift shop. Staff are volunteers from the local Mineral Society.

Tom Fisher

Excellent collection and knowledgeable staff. As a family we found it to be an extremely enjoyable visit.

Kevin Briola

Very interesting

Stephen Glichowski

Great staff and a really neat collection to explore.

Sharon Smith

Great little rock and gem museum. Very informative volunteers. Nice collection of stones from all over the world. Reasonably priced items for sale.

Dooley's Gems

Very educational and fun for kids

Trizzle Dizzle

Nice people and rocks!

Ezra Goodnoe

Quirky little museum with an impressive collection of rocks, gems, minerals, etc.

meg sug

For a free museum there's a lot to see here and the man showing us around was very knowledgeable.