Rubies

Harvard Museum of Natural History
26 Oxford St.
Cambridge
Fri., June 12, 2026, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.



Rubies is a new, intimate collection of stunning minerals, gemstones, and jewelry on display in the Earth & Planetary Sciences Gallery.

Ruby, the red variety of the mineral corundum, owes its vibrant color to trace amounts of chromium in its crystal structure. This element also gives many rubies a striking fluorescence, glowing bright crimson under ultraviolet light. Ruby’s internal world—its inclusions, growth zoning, and rutile “silk” needles—records its geological journey and can reveal its origin, making ruby a gemstone of extraordinary beauty and a rich source of scientific insight.

Check the museum's website for closure dates.

Gazette Classification: Art/Design, Community, Diversity and Inclusion, Education, Exhibitions, Science
Organization/Sponsor: Harvard Museums of Science & CultureHarvard Museum of Natural History
Cost: Regular museum admission rates apply
Harvard Key Required: No
More info: www.hmnh.harvard.edu…