Rock Hounds Contribute Gems and Minerals to Crater Rock Museum

The Crater Rock Museum that houses one of the finest collections of gems and minerals on the West Coast in Central Point, Ore., will be 60 years old this year.
The museum traces its history back to Delmar Smith and other rock hounds who established the Roxyanne Gem and Mineral Society to share stories and finds. In 1953, Smith constructed a small building next to his house to publicly display their collections.
A friend, Cap Mentzer, financed construction of a second building in the early 1970s.  Later in the decade, realizing most of the original club members had died, Smith became concerned about what would happen to his extensive collection when his time came. 
The Southern Oregon Historical Society accepted Smith's collection in 1979, and the Gem and Mineral Society kept the museum open with other members’ collections. Smith's gems and minerals have since been returned to the museum.
In recent years a generous donation allowed the Crater Rock Museum to expand into a newly completed facility. School groups are frequent visitors, fulfilling the museum’s mission to educate the public.
Sources: Morning News. Central Point, Ore. March 17, 1979; Crater Rock Museum. Viewed at www.craterrock.com/history_of_the_museum.