Museum of North Carolina Minerals (Milepost 331)

About Museum of North Carolina Minerals (Milepost 331)

The Museum of North Carolina Minerals highlights the rich mineral resources & the mining heritage of this portion of the Blue Ridge. The museum has interactive & experiential exhibits for children & adults. This area, called Gillespie Gap, was also significant in the American Revolution, where frontiersmen from the mountains known as the "Overmountain Men" crossed the Blue Ridge on their way to the Battle of Kings Mountain.

How to Get There

The Mineral Museum (MP 331) is located at the junction of the Blue Ridge Parkway and NC-226, about 6 miles east of Spruce Pine and 15 miles west of Marion, NC. It is approximately an hour and a half north of Asheville via the Parkway, or and hour south of Blowing Rock, via the Parkway.

Plan Your Visit to Museum of North Carolina Minerals (Milepost 331)

Heading to Museum of North Carolina Minerals (Milepost 331)? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)