I participated in the early June 18th annual Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum show in Marion, Kentucky. Attendance was among the best I can recall; it was almost crowded on Saturday for several hours, and Sunday morning was busy, too. The museum set a single-day record with admissions and gift shop sales. Rural museums always struggle to stay afloat, so the show plays a critical role in covering expenses during quiet seasons when tourism is low.
When I retire from the Falls of the Ohio State Park in early November, I will increase my volunteering for the Clement Museum. It’s challenging living 3 1/2 hours away, but I’ve got a place to stay, even with the passing of my long-time friend Bill Frazer earlier this year. This is one of America’s must-see mineral museums for anyone who likes minerals. The new Charlie Ruble collection room (finished weeks before the show) shows beautiful worldwide minerals, complementing the large collection of Illinois-Kentucky fluorspar district specimens. Newly acquired minerals from the Kentucky Science Center also add to the experience.
Panorama at the Clement Museum show in Fohs Hall, June 7, 2025.
Two vendors on the stage in Fohs Hall.
I planned to have the Garza-Horn-Robinson collection driveway sale the weekend after the Clement Show (while I had flats of specimens easily accessible), but Mother Nature nixed those plans. The sale is rescheduled for July 12 & 13.