Courtesy of Franklin Gem & Mineral Museum

Sights & Sounds

• See related photos, video, and audio.

Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum

The Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum, located in a historic jail in Franklin, North Carolina, houses thousands of specimens of gems, minerals, fossils, Indian artifacts, fluorescent minerals, and sea shells.

Gems & Minerals from the North Carolina Mountains and Around the World

• the States Room, with minerals from 49 states, Canada, and Australia
• the North Carolina Room, with specimens from the state of North Carolina
• the Native American Room 
• a display of fluorescent materials rivaling any such collection south of the Smithsonian
• a display of minerals used in making glass
• the Fossil Room, with relics such as Carcharodon teeth, petrified wood, and a dinosaur bone and egg
• the Central Room and the World Room, which feature specimens from dozens of countries and a display of "Writings in Stone" including a 1/16th replica of the Rosetta stone and a map of Hezekiah's tunnel
• Jewelry and curios composed of minerals from all over the world are available in a small gift shop. The museum offers classes for those interested in the lapidary arts, a library containing hundreds of books devoted to gems, minerals, fossils, and related subjects, and a workshop containing lapidary equipment.

Hours of Operation

May through October hours:
Monday through Friday: 12 pm - 4 pm
Saturday: 11 am - 3 pm and 6 pm - 9 pm

The museum is open Saturday evenings in the summer during "Pickin' on the Square" music fests.

November through April hours:
Saturday: 11 am - 3pm

Admission Fee

None.

Hours of operation and fees are subject to change. Contact directly for most current information.

Location

Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum
25 Phillips Street
Franklin, NC 28734
9828) 369-7831