Darcy Siegfried
The Women of Quail Creek (TWOQC) On The Go visited the Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum in early January. This internationally-known museum, uamineralmuseum.com, is run by the University of Arizona, along with a number of dedicated volunteers.
We were greeted by two wonderful docents (David and Dave) whose passion for the museum was contagious. There was a great discussion about how the minerals of Earth were responsible for creating the oxygen atmosphere that opened the way for life on earth. Specimens on display are from all over the world but with a heavy focus on the American Southwest.
Our excursion started at The Mercado, and then we took the free trolley to the Presidio. After the Gem Museum, we stopped at the Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center, visitsouthernarizona.com, a great resource and absolutely worth the time. From there, it was just a quick walk to lunch at The Monica, which is always a favorite.