photo by Steve Hammons
Man has attempted for thousands of years to replicate the beauty created in nature. A collection of stunning gems and minerals, found deep below the earth’s surface, can be seen at Chapman’s Gem & Mineral Shop and Museum just outside of Fortuna.
The shop and museum feature strikingly lovely stones from around the world for you to view at your leisure. Not only will you see gems in a huge range of color, shape and size in this impressively large collection, but also a petrified palm display, precious stones, Native American and pre-Columbian artifacts, fossilized animal and plant life and a display of meteorite samples. An ultraviolet room offers the chance to view stones in a unique way.
To get a full understanding of the collection, take the museum’s informal tour. This is a great experience for the geologist at heart. In the shop, purchase everything from stones, minerals, crystals and fossils to jewelry, books, carvings and shells. To purchase or just view some of the most beautiful stones in the world, Chapman’s Gem & Mineral Shop and Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The museum is located four miles south of Fortuna off Hwy 101. For more information, call (707) 725-2714.