If you’re looking for tektites in the US? Some places are better than others because of something called the North American tektite strewn field. This large covers parts of Texas, Georgia, and a few other states.
You can also see tektites in various museums across the country if you’re interested in these cool space rocks. Museums have collections from all over the world, including tektites found in the US.
Great Tektite-Hunting Areas
Finding tektites outside can be pretty tough because they’re rare and not always easy to spot. But, you can still check them out in different museums all over the US, as well as the various areas with confirmed tektite findings.
Grimes County, Texas
Grimes County, Texas, is a place with wide open spaces and lots of green. You’ll see farms, fields, and small towns spread out under big Texas skies.
People can enjoy outdoor activities like fishing, hiking, and checking out local history at museums and historic sites. There’s also fun to be had at community events and festivals throughout the year.
Grimes County is found within the North American tektite strewn field. Tektites have been found among the rocks in this area of Texas, which are on display in the Monnig Meteorite Gallery at the Texas Christian University.
Walker County, Texas
Walker County, Texas, is full of beautiful nature scenes with forests, lakes, and open fields. It’s a place where you can see the natural beauty of Texas up close.
In Walker County, there’s plenty to do outdoors like hiking through the Huntsville State Park, fishing in the lakes, or exploring the Sam Houston National Forest.
You can also learn about history at the local museums or enjoy community events in Huntsville.
Walker County is right on the edge of the North American tektite strewn field. You might be able to find tektites in the area, though it will likely be difficult. However, amazing specimens have been found in this county before.
Barringer Crater, Arizona
Barringer Crater in Coconino County is a giant meteor crater that looks like a bowl made of rock. It’s surrounded by the desert landscape, with wide-open skies and rugged terrain all around.
This crater is still owned by the Barringer family and is considered the best-preserved meteorite crater on Earth by scientists and institutes.
It’s been recognized as a National Natural Landmark since 1967 because of its scientific importance and remarkable condition.
Since the crater is privately owned, anyone who wants to check it out up close needs to get permission from the owners. Finding tektites around here is tough because they’re pretty rare, making them a challenging find for visitors.
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is a cool place in New York City where you can learn a lot about the natural world. It has a big collection of stuff from space, animals, and rocks from all over the planet.
In the Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites, you can see a display that includes tektites. These pieces are part of a bigger collection that tells the story of how Earth has been hit by stuff from outer space over millions of years.
Besides the tektites, the museum has lots of other awesome things to check out. There’s a giant blue whale model that’s super big, dinosaur skeletons that look really cool, and a bunch of different animal dioramas.
W.M. Keck Earth Science and Mineral Engineering Museum
The W.M. Keck Earth Science and Mineral Engineering Museum is a cool spot packed with all sorts of rocks, minerals, and old mining stuff. It’s known for showing off big collections of shiny minerals and historical mining equipment.
In the main gallery of the museum, you can check out the tektite collection in case number 21.
The museum doesn’t just have tektites; it’s also home to the amazing Mackay Silver Collection, made by Tiffany & Co. You can also check out fossils, old photos, and learn about mining history through their relics and exhibits.
University of Alaska Museum of the North
The University of Alaska Museum of the North (UAMN) is a place in Alaska where you can learn about the state’s nature, culture, and science. It has lots of cool stuff from huge dinosaur bones to art that shows what life is like in Alaska.
The museum’s Earth Science Collection displays tektites. This particular collection is centered around rocks from space and how they got to Earth.
There’s also an exhibit of animals from Alaska, like bears and wolves, and they show how people have lived in Alaska for thousands of years. Plus, in the museum, you can see beautiful Northern Lights without having to be outside in the cold.
Jackson School Museum of Earth History
The Jackson School Museum of Earth History at the University of Texas at Austin is a place full of cool rocks and fossils. It’s where you can see parts of Earth’s history all in one spot.
Here, there’s a big collection of tektites that were gathered from all over the world. This exhibit shows tektites found in many different places all over the world.
You can also check out fossils of ancient animals and learn about how the Earth has changed over millions of years. There’s also a bunch of different rocks and minerals that show how diverse our planet is.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is a huge museum where you can see all sorts of cool stuff from around the world. It’s famous for its massive collection of things from nature, like animals, plants, and rocks.
The museum’s tektite exhibit includes tektites from different parts of the world, showing how these cool rocks are linked to events from space.
There’s also an exhibit that includes the Bose Basin tektites, which came from a meteor impact that happened almost a million years ago.
You can also walk through halls full of dinosaur skeletons, check out beautiful gems and minerals, and learn about different cultures from across the globe. There’s always something new to discover, no matter how many times you visit.
La Sierra University World Museum of Natural History
The World Museum of Natural History at La Sierra University is a cool place where you can see animals and nature stuff. They have a lot of different things like amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles, all set up to look like they’re alive.
There’s also a collection of mineral spheres, which include tektites. They’re part of a bigger exhibit that includes meteorites and other cool rocks from space.
Besides tektites and animals, the museum has a ton of other awesome things to see. There are big collections of shiny mineral spheres, glowing rocks, petrified wood, and shells.
You can also learn about American Indian artifacts and look at some neat contemplative stones.
Monnig Meteorite Gallery
The Monnig Meteorite Gallery at Texas Christian University is a place packed with space rocks and cool stuff from the sky. It has a bunch of different meteorites and information about how they come from space.
The gallery shows off tektites along with other impact rocks, making it a neat spot for anyone interested in space and Earth’s history. Among these tektites are bediasites that were found in Grimes County, Texas,
There are also displays for all kinds of meteorites, like iron meteorites and ones from the moon and Mars. They even have programs for visually impaired visitors, so everyone can enjoy learning about meteorites.
Riddleville, Georgia
Riddleville is a small town with wide open spaces and fields that stretch out under the Georgia sun. It’s quiet, with country roads winding through forests and farms.
In Riddleville, you can enjoy outdoor activities like walking, biking, or having picnics in the park. There are also places to fish in nearby lakes and rivers, making it a peaceful spot for nature lovers.
Riddleville sits close to the North American tektite strewn field. The tektites here were found to the south of Riddleville, so that area could be a good place to start hunting for tektites.
Cherokee County, Alabama
Cherokee County, Alabama, is full of lush green landscapes, rolling hills, and sparkling rivers. It’s a place where nature’s beauty is on full display, with forests that stretch out as far as the eye can see.
People in Cherokee County enjoy lots of outdoor activities like fishing in Weiss Lake, hiking along the scenic trails, and boating. There are also historic sites to explore and local parks where families can have picnics under the sun.
Cherokee County sits within the North American tektite strewn field, close to its edge. A few tektites have been found here; however, finding them takes time and a lot of luck. Even so, it’s an interesting place to go rockhounding in Alabama.
Bleckley County, Georgia
Bleckley County is a place with wide-open fields, farms, and small towns. It’s got that classic countryside feel with lots of green spaces and trees.
In Bleckley County, you can go to local festivals, watch sports events, or enjoy outdoor activities like fishing and hiking. There’s also plenty of history to explore in museums and historic sites.
Bleckley County is right in the middle of the North American tektite strewn field, which is why tektite is among the rocks you can find in Georgia. This means it’s a spot where you might just stumble upon these rare rocks from space.