WELCOME
To The National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame.
WHAT IS THE HALL OF FAME?
The National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame was founded in 1987 to recognize excellence in the earth sciences by inducting one or more persons each year in six categories: Minerals, Fossils, Metalcraft, Lapidary, Education and Deceased. At this time we have 119 inductees representing 44 states. All of the inductees are experts in their fields. Many of them have published several books and most of them have been active in community service.
SOME NOTABLE INDUCTEES
Washington Roebling, one of our inductees in the Deceased category, was best known for designing the Brooklyn Bridge. He had an extensive mineral collection that was given to the Smithsonian.
Lafayette Funk, a member of the family that hybridized a type of corn (Funk's G Hybrid), collected giant mineral specimens. Lafayette donated his first enormous mineral collection to Illinois State University at Normal. Later collections were donated to Wesleyan University and the University of Illinois at Champaign. Originally inducted in Minerals category, he is now deceased.
Also in the Deceased category, Joseph Lizaddro, collector of lapidary masterpieces, established the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Arts in Elmhurst, Illinois.
A Lapidary inductee, Ute Bernhardt, was the first American and the first woman to carve the official cameo of the Pope. She lived in the Vatican for the six weeks it took to carve the cameo.
Roger van Cleef, an inductee in the Fossil category, played football for the Dallas Cowboys.
In the Mineral category, Paul Desautels, was curator of Minerals at the Smithsonian until his retirement. Paul also served on the Board of Consultants for the Hall of Fame.
ABOUT US
The Hall of fame is a tax exempt organization. Under a ruling by the Internal Revenue, dated March 14, 1996, donations to the National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame are tax deductible under Section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501 (c) (3). We accept donations of almost anything including, but not limited to, money, rocks, fossils, jewelry, antiques, cars, works of art, etc.
In the Hall of Fame, we have a picture gallery wall where a picture of each inductee is hung. Also on the picture gallery wall, is a plaque engraved with the names of each inductee with the category and year they were inducted. There is also a special case where donated examples of their work are displayed.
Nominations of qualified persons to the Hall of Fame, may be made by anyone associated with the earth sciences. E-mail the National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame for a list of qualifications and ballots.
The Hall of Fame is governed by a 7 member Board of Consultants: Pansy Kraus, California; Dorothy Lee, Oregon; June Culp Zeitner, South Dakota; Russ Kemp, Illinois; Steve Weinberger, Maryland and Fred Schaefermeyer, Virginia; and Diane Dare, Florida. The Curator is Maxine M. Wilson, South Dakota.
The National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of fame is located in the Pioneer Auto Show at Murdo, SD. Watch for the looong green car!
Visit Us
co-located at the Pioneer Auto Show
I-90 Exit 192
Murdo, SD 57559
Hours of operation: Open year around, the hours vary.
Admission Charge: Yes. One admission admits the ticket holder to the entire complex.
Telephone: 605-669-2691
Fax: 605-669-3217
Symbolist Web Design
2003
