Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, & Minerals

The Hall of Geology, Gems, & Minerals presents specimens from the Museum’s collection of gems, minerals, rocks and meteorites. Students can also explore similarities and differences between Earth and its neighbors in space, touch a rock from Mars and see extraterrestrial diamond dust. Additional highlights include the Hope Diamond, the National Gem Collection, the Mine and Rocks Galleries, the Plate Tectonics Gallery and the Moon, Meteorites and the Solar System Gallery.

There is no exhibit I have visited, museum ive been to, event ive attended, painting ive admired, sculpture ive touched, or exhibit of any sort that ive attended to that even comes close to the mineral hall of the Smithsonian. It is my favorite of all-time nothing else even comes close.