Chicago Field Museum's Grainger Hall of Gems

Image as Featured on Time Out Chicago, 2009   Nestled on the edge of Lake Michigan, Chicago's Field Museum is home to one of the most unique jewelry exhibits in the United States. Founded in 1893, the Grainger Hall of Gems has a history as fascinating as its displays. As the 1893 Chicago World's Fair wound to a close, several of the city's more prominent residents expressed a desire to convert the fair's extensive geological collection into a permanent display for the city of Chicago. Among them were Marshall Field (1834-1906), who purchased and donated rock and mineral specimens from Ward's Natural Science, and Harlow Higinbotham (1838-1919), who purchased and donated the fair's extensive Tiffany & Co. collection. The Chicago Columbia Museum opened its doors in 1894, and the Higinbotham Hall of Gems quickly became one of the institution's most popular attractions. Over the years, the Hall of Gems underwent several renovations, including one in 1987, at which time it was given a new name in honor of its sponsor, The Grainger Foundation. In 2009, the Hall was once again remodeled under the direction of Dr. Lance Grande, geology department curator. Dr. Grande's vision included brightening up the space to give it a more regal feel and refining the collection to emphasize the beauty of gemstones in all their forms. During the extensive enterprise, Dr. Grande scoured the museum's collections for exceptional gems to place on display. He also partnered with several jewelry designers to secure breathtaking settings for many of the museum's loose stones. Believing that "it is the aesthetics that form the strongest attraction to gems, ranging from their natural beauty as raw crystals to their artistic beauty as products of human artistry," Dr. Grande and his team have created an exhibition as stunning as any of the masterpieces on display. Visitors to the museum enjoy a holistic immersion into the world of gemstones. Each display tells a gemstone's complete story. A specimen of the gemstone in its raw form stands beside stunning loose faceted stones, which form a brilliant juxtaposition to finished jewelry pieces in the form of rings, brooches, necklaces, and more. By presenting over 700 specimens across every stage of a gemstone's transformation, Dr. Grande has effectively combined "natural beauty with the beauty of human artistry" {cited}, allowing viewers to "explore the natural history as well as the craftsmanship that is required to turn minerals into masterpieces" {cited}. Museum goers enjoy the privilege of feasting their eyes upon 600 gemstone specimens and 150 exclusive jeweled wonders, some dating back to the ancient Aztecs, others designed by some of today's top jewelry designers. If you're planning to be in the Chicago area, be sure and carve out some time to soak in the glittering beauty of the Grainger Hall of Gems.