The Yale Peabody Museum has officially reopened its halls of Minerals, Earth, and Space to the public, showcasing one of the world’s foremost collections of minerals. More than 170 specimens—some of them the largest and rarest of their kind—are now on view in the stunning and newly renovated galleries. At the heart of these spaces is the hallmark gallery, the David Friend Hall. Made possible by the generosity of alumnus ’69, the Hall became one of the Peabody’s most popular attractions when it first opened in 2016. The David Friend Hall draws on some of the most significant private mineral collections in the world. A 436-pound stibnite specimen donated by , presented in a “frozen fireworks display,” greets visitors as they enter the Hall. Once inside, visitors immediately view a giant 1,900-lb quartz crystal from .
“Since we reopened in March, I’ve heard enormous anticipation from visitors about our gem and mineral collection. The wait is finally over. The David Friend Hall and the surrounding galleries exhibit some of the rarest and most extraordinary specimens in the world. This hall inspired us rethink the entire museum when it first opened years ago. Now, with new exhibits and features, it looks more stunning than ever,” said . “I envisioned a mineral gallery for designed to inspire rather than lecture. So, we chose specimens that are jaw-droppingly beautiful, the room is subtly lit so that the specimens themselves shine, and there is a minimum of descriptive labelling. I want visitors to leave this hall overwhelmed by the beauty of what they have seen and anxious to go home and learn more, or even start collecting minerals themselves,” philanthropist said.
The 2016 opening of David Friend Hall demonstrated what a contemporary museum experience could be, inspiring the re-envisioning of the entire Peabody Museum, which just completed a top-to-bottom renovation and expansion. Following its renovation, the upgraded is a showplace for the collection and can seat 125 people for events and talks. The gallery integrates both free-standing, large-scale minerals with small-scale specimens in dynamic visual displays that are designed to rotate often. Customized cases and new, state-of-the art LED lighting, showcase the uniqueness of each specimen and its natural—often otherworldly—beauty.
The Peabody houses one of the nation’s oldest collections of gems and minerals and the oldest meteorite collection in , approaching 100,000 mineral specimens and over 3,000 meteorites. Among the many donors and lenders who contributed to the project, the Yampol Family and The Mineral Trust loaned over 200 specimens to the Museum, representing a part of one of the best private collections in the world. A highlight of their contribution is “The Rocket,” the largest elbaite specimen recovered from a legendary Brazilian mine.
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* Mondays – Closed
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SOURCE Yale Peabody Museum
