Maine Mineral & Gem Museum – Bethel, Maine - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

AO Edited

Maine Mineral & Gem Museum

Bethel, Maine

A showcase of geologic history is home to one of the largest collection of lunar meteorites on Earth.  

View all photos
The largest collection of lunar meteorites in the world. theliz (Atlas Obscura User)
The largest collection of lunar meteorites in the world. theliz (Atlas Obscura User)
Collection of gemstones and jewellery from Maine gems ickaimp (Atlas Obscura User)
Maine Mineral & Gem Museum theliz (Atlas Obscura User)
Maine Mineral & Gem Museum theliz (Atlas Obscura User)
Pertica quadrifaria specimen, the Maine state fossil. theliz (Atlas Obscura User)
Maine Mineral & Gem Museum theliz (Atlas Obscura User)
NWA 12760, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest single chunk of lunar meteorite recorded on earth, weighing 128llb/58.1kg. ickaimp (Atlas Obscura User)
Maine Mineral & Gem Museum theliz (Atlas Obscura User)
95
416
Top Places in Maine
Close-up of Mary Nasson's image on her grave
York Witch Grave
York, Maine
Bryant Stove and Music
Thorndike, Maine
Old Pond Railway Trail
Hancock, Maine
 See All

The town of Bethel, Maine with a population of under 3,000 is home to the unassuming, yet nevertheless, stunning Maine Mineral & Gem Museum (MMGM), which opened in 2019. The main exhibit hall takes a local approach to geology, with the official Maine state mineral, tourmaline, on display along with other locally-sourced minerals such as amethyst, beryl, quartz, and many others.

The MMGM also showcases a geological history of Maine, including the official state fossil, Petrica quadrifaria, believed to be one of the largest terrestrial plants of the Devonian period. The display also includes a collection of local minerals, fossils, and petrified wood from the pre-Cambrian era, through the Mesozoic era and Quaternary period.

Perhaps most notably, the small museum is home to both the largest piece of the moon ever to fall to Earth and one of the largest collections of lunar meteorites in the world. The largest known piece of the Vesta asteroid and the oldest igneous rock ever discovered in the solar system, are just a few other highlights of this world-class meteorite collection.

moon space geology museums
Nearby
Artist's Bridge
6.42 miles
The World's Largest Telephone
7.31 miles
World Traveler Signpost
11.29 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
A side view of Artist's Bridge
Newry, Maine

Artist's Bridge

A century after his death, this covered bridge still calls to mind the plein air painter who loved it.
Woodstock, Maine

The World's Largest Telephone

A giant telephone commemorates the last "crank" call ever made in the U.S.
A visitor poses with the World Traveler Signpost
Bethel, Maine

World Traveler Signpost

Turns out you can see the world without ever leaving Maine.
Rumford, Maine

Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox

A larger-than-life dedication to the famous lumberjack and his loyal ox.
Related Places
Another view of the "Great Scott" rock.
Hartford, Connecticut

Great Scott Moon Rock

An actual piece of the Moon, brought down to Earth by Apollo 15.
Kathmandu, Nepal

Apollo Lunar Sample Displays

Visitors to the National Museum of Nepal can moon over a set of well-traveled flags.
Dinosaurs on the facade.
Mexico City, Mexico

Museo de Geología (Museum of the Institute of Geology)

The museum houses "the most studied meteorite in history," among other geological oddities.
Ilulissat, Greenland

Ilulissat Icefjord Center

A remote Arctic museum focusing on the science of icebergs and the archaeology of an ancient Inuit settlement which lies just outside its doors.
Appears in 2 Lists
Monterey's Moon Tree
List

10 Places That Bring Space Down to Earth

From trees grown from space-seeds to a wheel of cheese that's been to orbit and back, slices of space are everywhere.
Roxanne Hoorn June 21, 2024
The largest collection of lunar meteorites in the world.
List

12 Places to Get Close to Space Right Here on Earth

And we're not talking about telescopes.
Jonathan Carey January 28, 2022
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web