Hastings Museum features an extensive collection of rocks and minerals, including samples from around the world, as well as agates and florescent minerals. Our display cases let you get up close to the rocks and minerals of Nebraska.
One of the most spectacular parts of this exhibits is a dark room filled with fluorescent rocks and minerals that are illuminated with ultraviolet light. They glow with an amazing array of vibrant colors. The ultraviolet light activates these minerals and causes them to temporarily emit visible light of various colors. This light emission is known as fluorescence.