Thank you for being gracious, Dennis. My comment was short-sighted, to say the least. There is a huge amount of work contributed to make a museum live, and I wasn't thinking in those terms.
That story about the missing specimens is intriguing! It has all the elements of a fantastic novel - even without an ending. In reality it is alarming to think about the implications and how vulnerable all those items are to an insider... or an international ninja thief. 

Dang!  Somehow I missed this one too!   

Thanks for the bump Joe!  You did a nice job with all the pictures!

Yes, that Amethyst is classic Reel Mine growth form.  I would love to donate a specimen or two from my NC collection, but then what if it goes in one of those unlit cases.     Still good to see those specimens again.  Thanks Collin.

Collin,

I worked at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences from 1996 to 2004 as Coordinator of Living Collections.  I was hired to help develop and design exhibits, holding areas, and programs for the museum's live animal collection.  The staff designers of the museum architect firm contracted to design the the new museum (the current one that opened in 2000) were totally opposed to having "collections" on exhibit.  Their feeling was that exhibiting collections like rocks and minerals, taxidermied animals, and dinosaur mounts were "old fashioned."  Their expertise were designing interactive museums like "hall of fame blah, blah, blah" museums that kids and some adults could  touch exhibits, pull on moveable panels, or see videos (talking heads).  No matter how much the staff explained that NC had one of the earliest mining histories (and state geological surveys) in the nations went into deaf ears.

The current mineral displays were added after the big gem and mineral exhibit was held in the museum's travelling exhibit hall.  The specimens displayed in this exhibit included those of the museum's and those loaned from private collections.  This exhibit proved very popular.  After the the next travelling exhibit was getting ready to be set up, the mineral exhibit was removed, but several of the private people donated many top quality specimens to the museum, among them SAS in Cary. 

One stipulation for getting the specimens was that the majority had to be exhibited.  The current mineral cases were set up in the Underground NC Exhibit area where they are today.  I won't make any excuses for the museum, but the current legislative body and governor are staunch anti environment types, and this includes natural history.  Recently, our lawmakers have bunched all museums under the same department for oversight.  What this means is, the museum and all aquariums were removed from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and placed under Cultural Affairs.  Budgets have been slashed, including staff, so there's no wonder that things have gone downhill.

The museum's mineral collection is extensive, but lack of exhibit space, manpower, and money keeps them in boxes on shelves in off exhibit areas.  Welcome to the real world of, "if it don't make money it ain't worth nothing."

Dennis

Thanks for all the information Dennis!  And the pics are great!

Bummer to hear that budgets have been slashed!  Every time I go in, there are tons of people there.  If they charged a dollar or two, maybe it would help the mineral displays.

Thanks
-Collin