The Baker Heritage Museum is a 33,000 square-foot building that includes exhibit space and storage rooms for Baker County artifacts. Included in the layout is an approximate 1,350 square-foot of rock, gem, and mineral exhibits and one workroom, Lapidary Room, where the Baker Rockhounds host weekly work parties and monthly meetings.
The museum's rock, gem, and mineral exhibit began as an exhibit dedicated to the lifetime rockhounding of sisters Mamie Cavin and Beth Cavin (Warfel). The sisters massive rockhounding collection included unique and colorful specimens from around the world. Over the years, as the museum expanded, the museum acquired specimens from other donors. Notably, from the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) and Billy Wyatt's cabochon collection. The DOGAMI collection includes an extensive representation of U.S. Bureau of Mines ore samples. The Billy Wyatt collection is an impressive display of artistically cut and polished rocks from Oregon.
The following photographs are a sample from the Baker Heritage Museum's rock, gem, and mineral exhibit. The museum community takes great pride in displaying and storing these specimens for the benefit of the public. This season, a collaboration with the Baker Rockhounds has provided an opportunity to make enormous progress towards complete inventory, best storage practices, and engaging exhibits.
The museum community welcoms visitors to the Cavin-Warfel Rooms, featuring the Cavin-Warfel Rockhound Collection; the Billy Wyatt Cabochon Collection; and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.
The museum gift shop has a fantastic selection of rock, gem, and mineral rockhounding guides available for purchase. Purchases from the gift shop benefit the museum.