| Could there actually be a much more exciting name | | | | If you do decide to visit Crater of Diamonds State |
| for a tourist attraction than "Crater of Diamonds | | | | Park, don't worry about what to bring. You can rent |
| State Park"? It evokes visions of walls of rock from | | | | or purchase diamond mining tool there onsite. Of |
| which there are diamonds the size of grapes just | | | | course, you can bring digging tools from home if you |
| waiting to be plucked. In reality, this is the only | | | | like; some tourists simply walk up and down the park, |
| diamond site in the world where you can pluck and | | | | looking for diamonds while others prefer to dig. They |
| keep whatever you find, and yes, that does include | | | | also have what's called a Diamond Discovery Center |
| real diamonds. Anyone interested in gemology or that | | | | to identify diamonds and other gemstones you may |
| just wants to have an adventure with the family | | | | find without charge. |
| should not miss out on visiting the Crater of | | | | Your first question when considering whether or not |
| Diamonds State Park. | | | | to visit Crater of Diamonds State Park - if you're not |
| Located in the southern area of Murfreesboro, | | | | out the door and on your way to Arkansas already - |
| Arkansas, this land was originally a farm owned by a | | | | is whether or not the diamonds you find there are |
| man named John Huddleston. He found the first | | | | actually valuable. It's important to remember that a |
| diamond on the property way back in 1906. Over the | | | | diamond is not truly valuable until it has been cut by a |
| years there were many attempts to turn the farm | | | | diamond cutter or jeweler; some diamonds are so |
| into a private mining facility, but finally in 1972 the | | | | small that they simply cannot be cut. There have |
| state of Arkansas purchased the property and | | | | been some larger diamonds found at the Crater of |
| turned it into the Crater of Diamonds State Park. It is | | | | Diamonds State Park and were cut even up to D |
| open to the public for tours or for the real reason | | | | Flawless, some of the most valuable diamonds there |
| many come to see it - mining for diamonds. | | | | are. However, most are just about the right size for |
| The park is about 37 acres large and is plowed | | | | a souvenir and can be mounted in jewelry on their |
| regularly although not on a particular schedule. This | | | | own for a great keepsake. |
| plowing allows for new earth to be overturned so | | | | It's important to remember that none of the staff at |
| that more tourists can try their luck at finding real | | | | Crater of Diamonds State Park can cut a diamond or |
| gemstones when visiting Crater of Diamonds State | | | | rate it for you; they can only certify that the stone |
| Park. It is also quite a historical attraction, with old | | | | actually is a diamond. So you may not get rich there, |
| structures, equipment, out of date diamond washing | | | | but it is a great place to visit and learn about |
| pavilions, and other features left intact. | | | | diamond mining. |