Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes of a world-class mineral museum? Or what it takes to care for tens of thousands of delicate specimens? Or which object in the collection makes a researcher pause mid-sentence because it still feels a little bit magical?
The Ask the Museum video series invites you inside the everyday life of the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. We may even answer a question of your own! Tell us what you’re curious about by sharing on our Facebook or share it here.
This new short-form video series spotlights the people who keep the museum running, from researchers and collections specialists to store staff and behind-the-scenes problem solvers. In each episode, staff answer real questions about the museum’s extraordinary collection, the science behind the stones, and the work it takes to keep a modern museum humming.
“What lives in the vaults that visitors don’t usually see? How do we care for tens of thousands of mineral specimens? What does a typical day at the museum actually look like?” Ask the Museum takes on these questions and more, one curious prompt at a time.
The goal is to pull back the curtain and invite the public into the process.
“One of my favorite things about working in museums is that there is no such thing as a ‘typical day,’” MMGM Executive Director Kristy Griffin said. “There is always something new to learn, so many unique experiences, and amazing people that you get to meet. We want to share all of that with the public. Ask the Museum is about opening the door and letting your curiosity lead the way.”
Episodes are short, approachable, and designed for everyone, whether you’re a longtime rockhound, a science-loving kid, or someone who just wants to know how a museum actually works.
“We get questions of all kinds every single day, from quick curiosities to deep dives,” said MMGM Curator and Staff Geologist Myles Felch. “Ask the Museum is a way to broaden that conversation beyond our walls and share the collective knowledge of the MMGM team. There’s so much expertise here, and this series lets us pass that wisdom along to anyone who’s curious.”
Ask the Museum airs on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, and it’s meant to be a two-way conversation. Viewers are encouraged to submit their own questions, which may be featured in future episodes.
Because museums aren’t just places where objects live. They’re places where curiosity lives, too.
