AMMNRE Museum Display Wins "Best Museum Exhibit" Award at the 2026 Tucson Gem and Mineral Show!
Feb. 23, 2026
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Exciting news: our special exhibit at the 71st annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show was awarded this year's Betty & Clayton Gibson Memorial Trophy for Best Museum Exhibit. Our exhibit was titled "Museums: The Spirit of America," and was a twist on the show theme of "Red White & Blue - Celebrate the Spirit of Minerals." The display used real museum data and exceptional specimens from our collection to showcase why museums and their collections are important to the American people.
According to TGMS judges, the main criteria for the award was education, and we did indeed design this display with education in mind. Our informational labels cited three reasons why museums are vitally important: they preserve objects and stories, they inspire curiosity and learning, and they build community. The themes were formulated from actual visitor data from the American Alliance of Museums’ 2025 and 2024 Surveys of Museum-Goers. We then connected the themes to our specimens on display, including information about Arizona’s gold and silver mining history, Arizona’s non-metal mineral commodities, and finally, minerals we need for our rapidly changing modern society.
This exhibit prompted some interesting discussions with TGMS visitors, and we learned that many people agree with us about the continued importance of museums for our country’s heritage and future. We were honored to win the award and had a wonderful time at the show. Thank you, TGMS!
Contacts
Catie Sandoval