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Spotlight on U.S. meteorites brings together specimens from 43 states, including stones from falls that hit a car, a rooftop, and a piece of a headline-making fall that lit up a Georgia sky and interrupted a resident’s Zoom call. The display features a giant map of America’s documented falls and finds.

The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum (MMGM) will open a new temporary U.S. meteorite exhibit, The Sky Is Falling! Spotlight on U.S. Meteorites, on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The exhibit explores meteorites found across the United States and the remarkable, often astonishing stories behind their discovery. It showcases how landscape, people, and science converged to shape our understanding of the rocks that fall from space.

Of the 46 U.S. states with known recovered meteorites, The Sky Is Falling! features specimens from 43 of them, drawn from the museum’s own collection along with some select loans. Specimens are displayed over a large map charting documented meteorite falls and finds across the country. Visitors can trace where and how each stone came to Earth.

The “how” is where this exhibit comes alive. Alongside the science, The Sky Is Falling! tells the human stories behind the specimens: meteorites that struck a parked car or landed inside a bedroom, stones recovered by amateur astronomers and university students, and falls that advanced our scientific understanding of impacts and meteorite recovery. Among the highlights visitors can expect:

• A slice of the Peekskill meteorite (New York, 1992). One of the best-documented falls in history. Thousands at a Friday-night high school football game witnessed a football-sized stone crash through the trunk of a parked Chevy Malibu. Fittingly, the exhibit opens the weekend of the fall’s 34th anniversary (October 9, 1992).
• McDonough (Georgia, June 2025). A stone meteorite hunters found mere days after a smaller piece fell into a home and interrupted the resident’s Zoom call. 
• Park Forest (Illinois, 2003). On loan from meteorite hunter Roberto Vargas. This was the first witnessed U.S. fall of the 21st century. Parts of the falling meteorite collided with a car. 
• New Orleans (Louisiana, 2003). It punched through a roof, two floors, and an antique desk. On loan from MMGM researcher Alexander “Al” Falster. Al collected fragments of the fall with his mineralogy students the next day.
• Searsmont (Maine, 1871): part of the largest meteorite ever found to fall in the state.

“Of the 46 states where meteorites have been recovered, we’re proud to display specimens from 43, laid out over a map of the whole country,” said Myles Felch, Curator at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. “The stories are as remarkable as the stones themselves: from meteorites that struck a car or a person to specimens that helped advance our understanding of impacts and how we recover these rare visitors. It’s a chance to see just how much of the meteorite story has played out right here in the United States, and in Maine.”

“Every one of these specimens is a piece of the solar system that we can hold in our hands and study,” said Patrick Leverone, Meteorite Outreach Manager at MMGM. “Bringing so many U.S. falls together in one place lets visitors see not just where meteorites land, but how each recovery has added to what we know about our place in the cosmos.”

The exhibit drew on “From Weston to Creston,” meteorite collector Frank Cressy’s compendium of U.S. meteorite falls. It helped guide its development and is on sale in the Museum Store. MMGM is proud to display several American meteorites from Mr. Cressy’s own collection. The museum extends special thanks to him and to Connecticut-based meteorite hunter Roberto Vargas for helping the museum represent more U.S. meteorites from more states. Fittingly, several specimens come from recent falls that happened after the book originally published — one of them just last year.

The Sky Is Falling! Spotlight on U.S. Meteorites opens Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. The exhibit is on display for a limited time in the Discovery Gallery, which is free during museum hours.

About the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum

Nestled in the heart of Bethel, MMGM is home to the most significant collection of Maine minerals and gemstones in the world. A one-of-a-kind destination where geology, history, science, and education come to life, the museum also boasts one of the rarest displays of meteorites in the world, including Moon and Mars rocks. Through hands-on exhibits, expert storytelling, and cutting-edge research, MMGM inspires curiosity in visitors of all ages, inviting them to explore the incredible story of our planet — and beyond.

For admission information and upcoming events, visit www.mainemineralmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @mainemineralmuseum.

For more information, reach MMGM media contact Aidan McCourt at amccourt@mainemineralmuseum.or

BETHEL, MAINE — The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum (MMGM) is accepting applications through June 19 for two scholarships supporting students who wish to participate in the 2026 Maine Pegmatite Workshop. The event is one of the world’s premier educational programs focused on pegmatite geology, mineralogy, and field research.

The success of MMGM’s recent Emmons Pegmatite Quarry raffle raised more than $2,400 for student education. A generous $2,000 donation from the Capital Mineral Club helped to fully fund this year’s scholarship opportunities.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who purchased raffle tickets and to the Capital Mineral Club for helping make these scholarships possible,” said Kristy Griffin, Executive Director of the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. “Their support directly helps students gain access to a world-class educational experience and connect with leading researchers working in one of the most important pegmatite regions in the world.”

Three randomly selected raffle winners and their guests will experience a rare opportunity to spend a day rockhounding at the renowned Emmons Pegmatite Quarry in Greenwood, Maine, alongside MMGM Experimental Chemist and Researcher Alex Falster. Winners of the raffle were Leanne W., Lauren B., and Kevin M.

Applications accepted through June 19 for two merit-based scholarships:

The Frank Perham Memorial Scholarship supports one U.S.-based student and provides $1,800 toward participation in the workshop. It honors the legacy of a legendary Maine miner and storyteller whose lifelong contributions to pegmatite mining, mineral collecting, and workshop education helped shape generations of collectors and researchers.

The Alessandro Guastoni Memorial Scholarship supports one international student and provides $2,600 toward participation. It honors the late Italian mineralogist, museum curator, editor, and pegmatite researcher whose contributions to mineralogy and international collaboration left a lasting impact on the field.

Hosted annually by MMGM and the MP² Research Group, the Maine Pegmatite Workshop brings together students, researchers, collectors, and mineral enthusiasts from around the world for an immersive educational experience focused on Maine’s globally significant pegmatite deposits.

Participants divide their time between classroom instruction, field exploration, private collecting opportunities, and visits to active pegmatite quarries throughout western Maine. Internationally recognized experts lead the workshop, offering attendees direct access to some of the region’s most important geological sites.

“One of the workshop’s greatest strengths is its ability to connect students directly with experts and active research,” said Alexander Falster. “These scholarships help ensure that promising students can participate regardless of financial barriers, while also helping cultivate the next generation of mineral scientists, researchers, and educators.”

More Information:

• Workshop registration open to all. More information is available here.

• Students interested in applying must submit their applications by June 19, 2026.

• Scholarship applications and additional information are available online here.

• Questions: info@mainemineralmuseum.org.

About the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum:
Nestled in the heart of Bethel, MMGM is home to the most significant collection of Maine minerals and gemstones in the world. A one-of-a-kind destination where geology, history, science, and education come to life, the museum also boasts one of the rarest displays of meteorites in the world, including Moon and Mars rocks. Through hands-on exhibits, expert storytelling, and cutting-edge research, MMGM inspires curiosity in visitors of all ages. Inviting them to explore the incredible story of our planet — and beyond.

For information on admission and upcoming events, visit www.mainemineralmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @mainemineralmuseum.

Six Friday sessions invite families to explore the rock cycle, grow real crystals, sift for minerals, and more. Come for free and drop in all summer long!

BETHEL, MAINE — The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum (MMGM) is launching Science Fair Fridays, a free, six-week summer series of hands-on, drop-in science activities for kids, beginning Friday, July 10, 2026. Each Friday from 11 am to 1 pm, families can stop by the museum to explore a different earth-science theme. No registration or fee required.

Designed for curious kids and led by MMGM education intern Eli Budet, the series will make complex science concepts approachable. Each session pairs a different earth-science theme with a hands-on activity. Kids will crush crayon “sediment” into rock to model the rock cycle. They’ll build model solar systems, make eggshell geodes, create mica art, and grow real bismuth crystals. They’ll even sift for minerals like a working miner and take a close-up look at Maine’s quarries.

The full lineup runs each Friday from 11 am to 1 pm: 

• July 10: Rock Cycle Re-Imagined
• July 17: Model Solar System
• July 24: Egg Shell Geodes & Mica Art
• July 31: The Miner’s Secret: Sifting
• August 14: Maine Quarries Up Close
• August 21: Bismuth Crystal Growing

The series pauses the week of August 7 and resumes August 14. Activities are designed to be drop-in, so families can come for a few minutes or stay the whole session.

“Science Fair Fridays is exactly the kind of program we love to offer. It’s free, welcoming, and genuinely hands-on,” said Kristy Griffin, Executive Director of the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. “We want every family in the Bethel area to know they have a place to spend a summer Friday where kids can do real science, get curious, and connect with the incredible geology right here in Maine.”

The series is hosted by Eli Budet, an MMGM education intern and lifelong rock and mineral enthusiast from midcoast Maine. Budet is studying elementary education with a middle school minor and a concentration in science at the University of Maine at Farmington. He brings experience from summer camps, pre-K classrooms, and AmeriCorps educational service. He’s back for a second summer as the museum’s education intern.

“I’ve been a rock and mineral collector my whole life, so getting to share that with kids every Friday is a dream,” said Eli Budet, education intern. “Every week is something different and totally hands-on. My hope is that kids leave each Friday a little more excited about science than when they walked in.”

“Programs like Science Fair Fridays make science approachable for the whole family,” said Deb Johnson, Education Outreach Coordinator. “Each week connects a simple, fun activity to the museum’s world-class collection and to Maine’s own mining heritage. Kids aren’t just watching science — they’re doing it.”

Science Fair Fridays is free and open to the public. No registration is required. Sessions take place at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum in Bethel, Maine.

For more information and the full summer schedule, visit: www.mainemineralmuseum.org/events or follow MMGM on Facebook and Instagram @mainemineralmuseum. Questions may be directed to info@mainemineralmuseum.org.

About the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum:

Nestled in the heart of Bethel, MMGM is home to the most significant collection of Maine minerals and gemstones in the world. A one-of-a-kind destination where geology, history, science, and education come to life, the museum also boasts one of the rarest displays of meteorites in the world, including Moon and Mars rocks. Through hands-on exhibits, expert storytelling, and cutting-edge research, MMGM inspires curiosity in visitors of all ages. Inviting them to explore the incredible story of our planet — and beyond.