Preparations underway for the Gem and Mineral Show…

White tents dot Tucson in preparation for the Gem and Mineral ShowPPThe

The big white tents are beginning to dot the city;  from Palo Verde on the south side of town, up through the Frontage Road along I-10, to the center of town across from the Tucson Convention Center.  Preparations are underway for the Gem Mineral and Fossil Showcase.    The show, which takes over the city, brings vendors and buyers from all over the world.   Tucson truly becomes a melting pot.  Language students are in their glory!

This year’s theme is Minerals from California.    The main show at the Convention Center will feature colorful multi faceted minerals and gems from the state speculators flocked to during the gold rush.  Incidentally, Tucson was made a part of the Gadsden Purchase because it was the best route to California for those with gold rush fever.

Begun originally as a local show in 1955, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show has grown to become the largest show in the world which other shows wish to emulate.  The Showcase has grown up around it.  Many of the “shows”  allow only professional buyers with tax identification numbers.    Buyers from throughout the world are here to buy and sell precious stones and minerals which will become part of investor collections, part of a precious piece of jewelry, or a museum item.  Millions of dollars change hands.

Hotel rooms become the bartering place including the very upscale resort hotels here in Tucson.

But the fun shows welcome the general public and the flavors represent all parts of the world.  If you spent the entire time the show is up and running, you could not see everything.  African art, beads from throughout the world, fossilized plates, huge piece of crystal, delicate rings with gemstones, diamond earrings, rugs, crystals, meteorites… on and on.   It’s an education unto itself!

Grab a comfortable pair of shoes and get ready.  The Showcase opens January 28 and will run through the second week of February.  The Gem Mineral and Fossil Show at the Convention Center opens February 1o through the 13th.  This show will dazzle, but the fun is at the many and varied Showcases in the big white tents.  And there is “show food” too, but don’t forget your bottle of water, this is after all, Tucson!

road from

http://www.visittucson.org/visitor/events/gemshow/

http://www.visittucson.org/visitor/events/gemshow/faq/

http://www.tgms.org/showinfo.htm

http://www.xpopress.com/AZ-show-schedule.html

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.discoverseaz.com/Graphics/History/Gadsden_Purchase.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.discoverseaz.com/History/Gadsden.html&h=321&w=546&sz=168&tbnid=SCHaTEwjcl2tEM:&tbnh=78&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgadsden%2Bpurchase&zoom=1&q=gadsden+purchase&hl=en&usg=__h4pb1SFnc0flbpxpno2sdnTmy3Y=&sa=X&ei=5j80TZekI4GksQOawZ2sBQ&ved=0CDwQ9QEwBA

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