DGMS Special Exhibtion: Red, White & Blue

The 2026 Denver Gem and Mineral Show will celebrate two major milestones: Colorado’s 150th anniversary of statehood and the 250th anniversary of United States independence. To honor this historic year, the show theme focuses on Red, White, and Blue, offering exhibitors a wide range of creative possibilities for both mineral and fossil displays.

Minerals in Red, White, and Blue

The colors of the United States flag provide a strong framework for diverse and visually striking exhibits.

Colorado Examples:

Red: Rhodochrosite from Alma, Spessartine from Ruby Mountain
White: Analcime from Table Mountain, Milky Quartz from Ouray
Blue: Aquamarine from Mt. Antero, Barite from Stoneham

United States Examples:

Red: Spessartine and Elbaite from San Diego County, California
White: Moonstone and Cleavelandite from Amelia, Virginia; Calcite from Ohio; Analcime from New Jersey
Blue: Benitoite from California, Azurite from Arizona, Lazurite from Georgia, Topaz from central Texas

These color-themed minerals offer numerous opportunities for unusual, attractive, and educational displays.

Historic United States Specimens

The theme also invites exhibitors to draw on the rich history of mineral collecting in the United States.
Specimens with historical provenance—such as those shown at the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia—create an additional layer of storytelling and cultural context.

Notable historic examples include:

• Arkansas rock crystal
• Colorado amazonite
• Pegmatite minerals from New England
• Zinc minerals from Franklin and Sterling Hill, New Jersey
• Classic trap rock minerals from New Jersey and Connecticut

Many of these minerals continued to appear at later World Fairs, offering an extensive selection of historically significant pieces.

Fossil Exhibits and the Bone Wars Era

Fossil collectors will also find ample inspiration. The theme allows exhibitors to highlight specimens connected to the Bone Wars of the late 1800s, including material from the volcanic lakebed deposits of Florissant, Colorado, and Kemmerer, Wyoming. These fossils provide an engaging complement to the mineral displays and broaden the historical scope of the theme.

A Theme Rich in Color, History, and Discovery

The Red, White, and Blue concept opens the door to a remarkable variety of exhibits—from vibrant color-grouped minerals to historically significant U.S. classics and stories from America’s early fossil discoveries.
The 2026 show theme promises visually compelling displays that reflect both the natural beauty and the historical depth of the United States.

More about DGMS

Participating Museums/Organizations/Collectors in the DGMS Special Exhibition 2026: