Mineral & Lapidary Museum — Attraction in Hendersonville

I would highly suggest anyone visit this museum if they have any interest at all in rocks and minerals or fossils! This has been my go-to stop for a rock and mineral shopping haul for two years since I finally discovered its existence (long overdue)! The volunteers are always so friendly and helpful. They are knowledgeable and passionate about the exhibits and they are very kind about helping you with any purchases you make while at the museum. There are so many things to see here although the museum is small so please don’t be discouraged by the appearance of the room when you first enter! Take in everything! Each piece is incredible in its own right and they really take pride in everything they display. Also… you cannot beat the prices here. I LOVE buying way too many rocks and minerals for my own good because I know I’m getting an absolute steal. So take the trip, take a chance, whatever you need to do, it’s worth it to go into...

What this museum lacks in size it makes up for with the diversity of exhibits, density of information, and informed and enthusiastic volunteers. Located in a former bank vault, it is at basement level, accessible from 4th St or Main St. My 91 year old father (who lives in a skilled nursing facility) was able to enjoy the museum via Main St elevator access (inside the room of the Henderson Historical Museum). The distance between the displays allowed plenty room for him to get around using his walker. Of special interest were minerals and meteorites from North Carolina. The most fascinating exhibit showed the luminescence of certain minerals under different light. Also on exhibit are fossils, human skulls, petrified wood, and much more. A special treat: we purchased a geode that two volunteers split in two then gave a verbal and written analysis of the minerals inside. A very special,...

This medium-sized, air-conditioned, well-lit, educational facility is hidden away on the Lower Level of an ornate corner building, but it may be easily entered from Main Street by a stairwell or an elevator, or by its ground-level side entrance along Fourth Avenue East.

The museum features fossils of prehistoric creatures, spectacularly-glowing fluorescent minerals (in bright orange, green, gold, blue and red), an impressive replica of a humongous Tyrannosaurus skull, a child-oriented and educational gift shop, a geode-cracking mechanism for use by careful visitors, a fossil-cast of a gigantic Mammoth tusk, crystallized oddities and rocks from around the globe, and locally-made, hand-crafted jewelry & lapidary items for...