THE LYMAN MUSEUM
Rock&Gem Magazine|September 2020
Taking in the Splendor and Intriguing History of One of the Top 10 Best Mineral Collections
DONNA ALBRECHT
THE LYMAN MUSEUM

Like many of you, when I plan a vacation, I want to learn about the area’s rocks and minerals I may encounter. My 2019 cruise to Hawaii was no different, minus the fact that I would not be collecting. This response is partly due to understanding that collecting is not always appreciated in various areas of the islands, partially because of Pele’s Curse and because much of the geology is basalt.

Despite that, I wouldn’t be doing much digging to collect; I made a wonderful discovery in the Lyman Museum and Mission House on Hilo. This facility is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, having declared this collection one of the ten best mineral collections in the United States. This facility is the Hawai’i only natural and cultural history museum carefully curated and displayed in over 20,000 square feet of galleries. Knowing this, I was certain this would be a special place, and I was right.

When our group arrived at the museum, we were greeted by Gladys Suzuki, the education assistant of the museum, who graciously showed us around and shared the history.

The museum was founded by Orlando Lyman (1903-1986), the great-grandson of David and Sarah Lyman, missionaries who came to Hilo in 1832. Mr. Lyman’s great-grandparents collected and displayed natural “curios,” sparking his interest in the natural world. When he was a boy, his family took an automobile tour of the mainland.

“When we camped in the mountains and sagebrush country, I took early morning strolls and found all manner and types of colored rocks… “Lyman stated in his writings. “I have kept looking for minerals ever since.”

This story is from the September 2020 edition of Rock&Gem Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2020 edition of Rock&Gem Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM ROCK&GEM MAGAZINEView All
Rockhounding Ohio's Lake Erie Islands
Rock&Gem Magazine

Rockhounding Ohio's Lake Erie Islands

A short ferry boat ride three miles from Ohio’s Lake Erie coastline is South Bass Island, better known as Put-in-Bay or the “Key West of the North.”

time-read
4 mins  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Iowa's Hidden Treasures
Rock&Gem Magazine

Iowa's Hidden Treasures

Exploring Keokuk Geodes: How They're Made & What's Inside

time-read
5 mins  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Agatized CORAL
Rock&Gem Magazine

Agatized CORAL

Florida's Collectible State Stone

time-read
3 mins  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Rockhounding Florida's Beaches
Rock&Gem Magazine

Rockhounding Florida's Beaches

Beachcombing serene stretches of Florida can reveal fascinating finds like fossilized shark teeth, sea glass, quartz, agate and even coral fragments.

time-read
6 mins  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Collecting Staurolite
Rock&Gem Magazine

Collecting Staurolite

Hot Spots In Virginia & Georgia

time-read
3 mins  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Pecos Valley Diamonds
Rock&Gem Magazine

Pecos Valley Diamonds

New Mexico's Ancient Attraction

time-read
4 mins  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
12 Tips for Rockhounding Tucson's Greatest Shows
Rock&Gem Magazine

12 Tips for Rockhounding Tucson's Greatest Shows

Tucson in February becomes the international hub for buying and selling colored gems, rocks, minerals and fossils.

time-read
4 mins  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Turquoise in the American Southwest
Rock&Gem Magazine

Turquoise in the American Southwest

A Water & Sky Souvenir

time-read
4 mins  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Touring Colorado's MINERAL BELT
Rock&Gem Magazine

Touring Colorado's MINERAL BELT

It's a Showcase of Mining History & Minerals

time-read
6 mins  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024
Geology &Colorado's Taurish Traiks
Rock&Gem Magazine

Geology &Colorado's Taurish Traiks

Most of Colorado’s tourist trains today were originally constructed in the late 1800s to serve the state’s lucrative mining operations.

time-read
4 mins  |
Rockhound Roadtrip 2024