Maine Mineral and Gem Museum

The Maine Mineral and Gem Museum is a geology museum located in Bethel, Maine.[1][2] It displays a collection of rocks, minerals, and meteorites.

Maine Mineral and Gem Museum
Established2019
Location99 Main St, Bethel, Maine
Coordinates
TypeGeology museum
Websitemainemineralmuseum.org

History

The museum was formed from the possessions within Perham's Maine Mineral Store founded in 1919.[3] Following the closure in 2009, Massachusetts-based philanthropists Lawrence Stifler and Mary McFadden bought the Perham collection[3] The museum then opened in 2019.

Collection and research

Notable specimens contained by the museum are:

  • The largest chunk of the asteroid 4 Vesta on Earth.
  • The largest displays of lunar and Martian meteorites in the world, including the largest piece of the Moon known to exist.[4]
  • Petrica quadrifaria, a fossil tree and Maine's state fossil.
  • The largest known Martian meteorite, Taoudenni 002.

References
  1. "Home". Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  2. "Maine Mineral & Gem Museum". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  3. Libby, Peter (December 12, 2019). "A Museum Devoted to Geological Treasures Opens in Maine". The New York Times. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  4. "The Stifler Collection of Meteorites". Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. Retrieved 2022-03-15.


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