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Blue Ridge Parkway Developed Areas Museum of NC Minerals
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Located at milepost 330.9 of the Parkway, the Museum of NC Minerals opened in 1956 as a joint project between the National Park Service and the North Carolina Department of Conservation and Development. The exhibits focus on the economic benefits and uses of minerals found in the Spruce Pine mining district and elsewhere in North Carolina.
The Museum was subject to a nearly one million dollar renovation and expansion in 2002 with new exhibits and a much expanded mission and broadened interpretive goals. This was made possible by a partnership between the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the National Park Service, and Mitchell County in North Carolina.
A major focus is on fulfilling the North Carolina standards of learning in Earth Sciences with a curriculum based program at the Museum. Students from a five county region actively attend the Museum for experiential learning and are introduced to the wealth of cultural and natural resources of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Beside the museum, there are rest rooms and a small gift shop for the Parkway traveler.
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