Denver Museum of Nature & Science Unveils Plans for Complete Renovation of Gems & Minerals Hall, Announces New Hall Name

DENVER, May 8, 2025 — The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is unveiling plans for a complete renovation and expansion of its beloved Gems & Minerals Hall, made possible by a generous, transformational gift from longtime Museum supporters Cathy and Peter Dea.

“Cathy and I are honored that other trustees and past and new patrons of the Museum have also made significant pledges towards this inspiring project,” Peter Dea said. “The Museum has been an important part of our lives, and we are honored to play a role in reimagining one of guests' favorite experiences. As a geologist, I naturally gravitate to the gems and minerals displays, and we are excited for this new experience to spark guests’ curiosity and imagination and inspire children’s enjoyment of science.”

“We’ve created so many cherished and experiential memories as a family with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and are thrilled to support a project that will leave guests feeling a deep connection to our awe-inspiring natural world," said Cathy Dea.

The Dea family's relationship with the Museum spans decades. Peter joined the Corporate Partnership Committee over two decades ago at the invitation of now U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, leading Peter to serve four terms as a trustee including chairing the board. Cathy created, produced and co-directed two documentary films that premiered in the Museum's giant-screen theater. Following the discovery of hundreds of Ice Age fossils in Snowmass, Colorado, and participating in the dig with their three sons, the family commissioned the sculpture, “Snowmastodon,” that stands proudly on the northwest corner of the Museum grounds.

"The Dea's legacy is not only in the halls they've helped build, but also in the hearts and minds of everyone who visits them," said George Sparks, president and CEO of the Museum. "We are forever grateful to the Deas for this transformational gift and all of their enthusiastic support over the years. We wouldn't be the Museum we are today and will be in the future without Cathy, Peter and their entire family."

The Dea Family Gems & Minerals Hall will be 50% larger than the current Gems & Minerals Hall. The new design is inspired by our community's desire to be transported to an underground, immersive environment and interact with minerals in their natural forms through multi-sensory experiences. 

The ambitious project is planned to begin in early 2026 with the closure of the existing hall and is planning to re-open in 2027. The renovations will transform the space into an immersive, multi-sensory experience centered around the big idea that "My World is Made of Minerals," connecting guests to the essential role minerals play in our everyday lives.

Imagine stepping into the ethereal realm of a speleothem cave to navigate among glistening stalagmites and stalactites, or descending into a modern mine where you hear the rhythmic sounds of heavy equipment echo through tunnels built to withstand the extreme pressure created by the weight of the mountain above you, the air carrying scents of the ore being extracted to produce many of the items you use in your daily life.

Guests will journey through experiences like these to discover the beauty, science and everyday importance of minerals through the new exhibition that reveals how our world is made of minerals.

The Dea Family Gems & Minerals Hall will feature several interactive and inspiring areas, including:

• Underground Adventure – Pause to allow your eyes to adjust to the dim light and step into realistic cave environments inspired by the speleothem caves located throughout Colorado and the Cave of Crystals in Naica, Mexico, featuring stunning formations and larger-than-life crystals, creating the sensation of exploring rarely accessible natural wonders. Interactive experiences encourage guests to experiment with factors like depth, temperature and pressure to discover how minerals form and then match your creations up with real specimens on display from the Museum’s collections.
• Mine Experiences – Explore Colorado’s famous Sweet Home Mine and examine a stunning, six-foot wall of rhodochrosite crystals. Traverse into a modern mine for a first-person look at the life of an industrial mineral miner thousands of feet underground. Take the helm of the control station to explore mining activities like blasting, conveying and grinding the extracted ore.
• Constellation of Minerals - Marvel at a spectacular interactive display of over 450 minerals that illuminate to show their interconnected presence in everyday objects like the human body, transportation and the technology we use every day.  Hero Specimens - For an epic treasure hunt, keep your eyes peeled throughout all areas of the gallery for showstoppers like Diane’s Pocket, the Alma King and other favorites, plus one-of-a-kind treasures that have never been on public display!
• Mineral Mart – Take a playful approach to discovery by opening drawers, sliding windows and spinning displays in a convenience store to reveal hidden minerals used in common products like school and medical supplies, autos, bicycles, electronics and housewares.
• Rockies Are Mineral Rich - Step up to an interactive map of the Rocky Mountain region that responds to your selections, revealing how mineral deposits and geology shaped the development of towns, cities and infrastructure across our state.
• Color Room Experience – Another stunning array of the Museum’s collections, witness over 250 fluorescing minerals transform under changing ultraviolet light conditions revealing surprising and beautiful glowing properties.
• Gem Journey – Follow the fascinating transformation from raw mineral to finished gemstone, interact with equipment and learn about what makes a gem jewelry quality. Take in the Museum’s largest faceted mineral—the Dali Topaz, a 10,588-carat gemstone—in this section.
• Story Stations – Listen to first-person accounts from miners, scientists and environmental experts, offering diverse perspectives on the mineral world.

"We don't typically think of the minerals that make up our favorite products, but the average American uses 20,000 pounds (about the weight of a school bus) of minerals every year. The new Dea Gems & Minerals Hall takes this relatable topic and creates a space where science becomes accessible and exciting through sensory engagement and active participation," said Luke Fernandez, Denver Museum of Nature & Science project lead. "From touching minerals throughout the exhibition and examining them up close or glowing under ultraviolet light to learning about jewelry making and discovering how the same minerals are valued differently across cultures, there's something here to inspire everyone."

The Museum recently finalized detailed design plans and has reached 78% of its fundraising goal for the project. To learn more about who is supporting this transformational project and opportunities for how you can get involved, please visit the Gems & Minerals Hall update page. 

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About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain region’s leading resource for formal and informal science education. Many of the Museum’s educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District. The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Connect with the Museum on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Catalyst.