Franklin Mineral Museum
❄️ SEASONAL NOTE: The Franklin Mineral Museum is a seasonal treasure! They are currently closed for the winter to prep their exhibits and will reopen for the 2026 Season on April 1st. Mark your calendars—it’s the perfect spring break activity!
Glowing Rocks & Zinc Mines: Why the Franklin Mineral Museum is a Must-Visit
Forget what you think you know about museums. This is the "Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World." It’s half-science lab, half-history lesson, and 100% "treasure hunt."
Why it’s worth the trip:
The Rainbow Room: You walk into a room of ordinary gray rocks, the UV lights hit, and the entire wall explodes into neon pinks, greens, and oranges. It’s a literal "light show" made by nature.
The Buckwheat Dump Dig: This is the best part. You can buy a ticket to go out into the rock field and "mine" for your own minerals.
The 2026 Season: The museum is currently closed for the winter season but reopens April 2nd. Mark your calendars—it's the perfect spring activity once the snow melts at Mountain Creek.
Visitor Hack:
Bring a flashlight: If you're doing the outdoor dig, a small UV flashlight (often sold in the gift shop) helps you spot the "glow" before you even pick up the rock.
Wear "Digging Clothes": You will get dusty. Don’t go in your favorite sneakers!
The museum will be open APRIL - NOVEMBER
Hours: W/R/F 11am - 4pm, Sat 10am -5pm, Sun 11am - 5pm, M/T CLOSED
Address: 32 Evans Street, Franklin, NJ 07416
Tel: 973-827-3481
