Franklin Mineral Museum Inc — Attraction in Franklin

I recently visited the Franklin Mineral Museum, and it was an absolutely fascinating and enriching experience! Nestled in the charming town of Franklin, New Jersey, this museum is a hidden gem for anyone interested in geology, minerals, and local history.

From the moment I walked in, I was impressed by the sheer variety and quality of the exhibits. The museum houses an extensive collection of minerals, many of which are unique to the Franklin-Sterling Hill mining district. The fluorescent mineral room was a particular highlight—seeing the minerals glow under ultraviolet light was both mesmerizing and educational. It’s truly a world-class display that showcases the unique geological heritage of the area.

The museum is well-organized, with clear and informative displays that cater to both novices and enthusiasts. The detailed descriptions and historical context provided with each exhibit helped me appreciate the significance of the minerals and the rich mining history of the region. The staff were incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic, always ready to answer questions and share interesting facts about the collection.

One of the standout features of the Franklin Mineral Museum is the opportunity to go on a guided tour of a replica mine. This immersive experience provides a glimpse into the life of a miner and the challenges they faced. The tour was both educational and fun, making it a great activity for visitors of all ages.

In addition to the indoor exhibits, the museum also offers an outdoor collecting area where visitors can hunt for their own mineral specimens. This hands-on activity was a hit with both kids and adults, providing a unique and engaging way to learn about geology.

The museum’s gift shop is also worth a visit, offering a wide range of minerals, fossils, jewelry, and educational materials. It’s a great place to pick up a souvenir or a gift for a fellow rockhound.

Overall, my visit to the Franklin Mineral Museum was an unforgettable experience. It’s a must-visit for anyone with an interest in minerals, geology, or history. The combination of exceptional exhibits, knowledgeable staff, and engaging activities makes it a fantastic destination for a day trip. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore the wonders of the mineral world and learn about the rich mining history...

We visited on a recent trip to Sussex county. We were able to tour the museum, mine replica as well as collect rocks in the Buckwheat dump. We had a wonderful time learning about the history of mining in Sussex county-the florescent mineral capital of the world!-and about all of the unique minerals found in the area. They have incredible specimens of various types of rocks and minerals with placards of information on each. It was a fascinating tour and the museum employees spoke with us enthusiastically which made it a lot of fun. Their florescent mineral display was so cool it definitely can make even 40 somethings feel like kids again! Their specimens of large crystal franklinite (the state mineral as of 2023!)are unbelievable and worth a visit just to look at them. Such a fascinating mineral and truly something to behold.

We also did some collecting in the Buckwheat dump and wow you can spend days there with how much there is to go through. We found some very nice specimens of willemite l, calcite and franklinite and hope to come back to find other minerals like hardyston.

Thank you to the employees for the tour and being gracious hosts on our visit. We...

We did the outside dig that was the regular one you could buy through the museum. We had an absolute blast trying to figure out what to grab. Must-haves for next time and for everyone trying it for the first time: bug spray, sunscreen, bottled water, goggles, tools, sneakers, knee pads. Varying levels of skills can succeed, although it is not wheelchair accessible and if you have mobility issues it is not for you. There's a large hill to get down to the dig site but it was doable for me and I am very out of shape. I would recommend giving yourself at least 2 hours to dig and another hour to go through the short wave light shed where you take all of your findings in via bucket and see if they are fluorescent. You can take whatever you want at $2 per pound though they give you bags to put them in. We weren't sure if everything had to fit in the bags but we filled two and a half bags and it came out to 30 lbs. We are definitely going back and this time we are going to visit Sterling...