Enjoy special programs at the Crater during Spring Break

 

By Margi Jenks

 

As I write this we are experiencing our first real cold weather of the winter, with a possibility of freezing rain and snow.  However, spring in Arkansas is just around the corner.  So, we have been looking forward, as we always do, to March when more visitors come to the Crater to hunt for diamonds during their Spring Break vacations.  On March 15^th the Crater of Diamonds State Park will be celebrating its 40^th birthday.  So, in addition to our regular daily schedule of Diamond Mining 101 and Ask a Park Interpreter programs, we are celebrating the anniversary with special programs for our visitors to enjoy. All of the programs are free and open to the public. The special program schedule is:

 

            March 15      10:30 AM                 Tourism at the Crater

                                     3:00 PM                    Walk of Fame

            March 16      7:00 PM                    Crater Past and Present

            March 17      7:00 PM                    Famous Crater Diamonds

            March 18      3:00 PM                    Early History of the Crater

            March 19      3:00 PM                    Tourism at the Crater

            March 20      3:00 PM                    Discovery Dig for Kids

            March 21      3:00 PM                    Walk of Fame

 

All of the afternoon programs will be located at the classroom in the upper level of the Diamond Discovery Center.  The evening programs will be held at the park amphitheater, which is located next to the campground.  If the weather looks rainy, we will move the evening program from the amphitheater to the Diamond Discovery classroom at 3:00 PM. 

 

Children ages 3 to 8 years old will love the Discovery Dig where they can learn why diamonds shine and then dig up their very own special park souvenir. 

 

Three programs will focus on the history of the Crater before it became a state park in 1972. The Tourism at the Crater will discuss the history in the 1950’s and 1960’s of the Crater’s private tourist ventures. The Early History of the Crater spotlights the first diamond mining ventures from the first diamond find in 1906 to the 1930’s when the Depression closed down the diamond mining.  The Crater Past and Present is an overview of the diamond mine’s history from 1906 to the present.

 

Two programs will highlight some of the diamond mine’s most spectacular diamond finds.  Each diamond has a great story of the person and how they found that large diamond.  The Walk of Fame is a walk out on the diamond search area to the actual places where some of the famous diamonds were found. 

 

In addition to the 40^th anniversary program week, in March we are introducing the first two episodes of a new program type. We think our visitors will really enjoy “Visit with an Expert Miner”.  On Saturday, March 17^th and 24^th, at 2:00 PM you can come to Diamond Discovery Center classroom.  One of our expert diamond miners, who has years of experience finding diamonds, will there to answer your questions, tell you what to look for, and how to go about it.

 

So, when you plan your Spring Break trip to the diamond mine, add one of our special programs to your itinerary!!

 

Search area last plowed:  January 30, 2011; Most recent heavy rain:  February 13, 2012

 

Total diamonds found in 2012: 44

 

Diamonds registered for February 5-February 11, 2011 (100 points = 1 carat): 

 

February 5 - Kenny & Melissa Oliver, Rosston, AR, 14 pt. white, 26 pt. yellow, 29 pt. white; Garnet Pierce, Gonzales, LA, 12 pt. yellow

 

February 10 - Gerald Weitzel, Albert Lea, MN, 16 pt. white

 

February 11 - Kenneth Shoemaker, Murfreesboro, AR, 6 pt. brown