Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Inside The New Halls Of Gems & Minerals At The AMNH
By
Danny Lewis
Published Jun 8, 2021
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Jake Dobkin
View all 24
By
Danny Lewis
Published Jun 8, 2021
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
For generations of New York City residents, the American Museum of Natural History was home to an indoor playground, tucked away in a cul-de-sac past the Blue Whale and Cape York Meteorite. Technically, of course, that playground was the museum’s Hall of Gems and Minerals, but the 1970s-era carpet and ramp-strewn exhibit made the room irresistible to toddlers, as well as to parents and babysitters who needed a break.
Dr. George Harlow, the museum’s curator for gems and minerals, says the hall had a reputation among staff.
“It was the 'Nanny Hall,'” Harlow said. “Because it's a cul-de-sac. They'd turn the switch off on their head and just make sure the kid didn't escape.”
Read More: We'll Miss The 1970s Vibe Of The AMNH Halls Of Gems And Minerals
But while the newly-renovated Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals still only has one way in or out, the ad-hoc playground is no more. After the hall closed for renovations in 2017, the ramps and carpet were torn out and replaced with stone floors, and the alcoves swapped out for glass display cases and enormous specimens, like a 12-foot-tall geode and a wall-sized marble slab from Ogdensburg, New Jersey that glows fluorescent green and orange under an ultraviolet light.
The New Halls of Gems and Minerals at The American Museum of Natural History
Jake Dobkin
Removing the kind of 1970s flair does make the hall look like a more traditional museum exhibit. For Harlow, however, the changes represent a philosophical shift in how the museum handles its mineral collection, by presenting their “evolution” much as the nearby Hall of Human Origins depicts the development of our own species’ ancestors.
"I thought it was important to tell the story of the environments in which minerals form and how minerals relate to history, our history, our culture, our technology," Harlow said.
The new exhibition hall approaches that in a few ways: a side room devoted to precious stones has old favorites like the "Star of India" sapphire, but now also displays raw gems next to examples of finished and cut stones. Another case in the main hall is dedicated to objects found and made in the New York City region: samples of sediment from Staten Island, a Civil War-era artillery shell made from iron ore mined in Cold Spring, NY, and the Subway Garnet, a massive red stone unearthed by workers building Manhattan’s sewer system in 1885 (and given a flashier name by collectors).
This incredible specimen, a 9-pound almandine, is known as the Subway Garnet. It was discovered in 1885 under 35th Street between 7th Avenue and Broadway, near Herald Square.
D. Finnin/© American Museum of Natural History
“No place has been excavated quite like Manhattan has,” Harlow said. “It's like a giant quarry. Every time you build a building, you dig down and you get stuff.”
Read More: This Gigantic Rock Jammed Between Two Buildings Is A Huge Part Of NYC History
Many of the informational displays have gotten upgrades, too. The crowded text cards have been replaced by touchscreens and QR codes that, when scanned with a smartphone, allow visitors to look at the specimens from different angles and to read up on specific objects. All that gives the gems and minerals a little more elbow room.
The AMNH's new Halls of Gems and Minerals opens on June 12th.
Tagged
amnh
halls of gems and minerals
Danny Lewis
Danny Lewis is a former Gothamist and WNYC reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
A new film focuses on the strange career of a location scout in New York City.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Sep 26, 2026
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
A massive MTA archive ended up in a Virginia warehouse. A Brooklyn man brought it home.
By
Hannah Frishberg
How a Harry Styles pop-up in the East Village led to a nearby bookstore owner's arrest
By
Sonia Rao
NYC’s creative workers are increasingly self-employed, report says
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .