Kansas
For a treasure hunt or spiritual healing, check out these Kansas City rock and gem shops
This story was first published in KCUR’s Adventure newsletter. You can sign up to receive stories like this in your inbox every Tuesday.
We all know that Kansas City is a gem of the Midwest. And in a previous Adventure, we spent some time exploring the exciting geology of the area. But there’s even more to explore with local rock shops that bring in minerals, crystals and fossils from all over the world.
For many, collecting rocks is a treasure hunt, whether finding them oneself straight from the ground or river bed, or sourcing a rare specimen mined in a distant land.
But it’s not just the crystalline glitter that attracts some collectors. For thousands of years, minerals and crystals have been considered to help guide and heal, imbued with powers from the earth and beyond (although we’ll let you be the judge of that).
You can attend the region’s biggest gathering of rockhounds during the annual Kansas City Gem & Mineral Show, presented by the Association of Earth Science Clubs of Greater Kansas City, now in its 63rd year. This year’s show runs March 7-9 at the KCI Expo Center, and is the second largest event of this kind in the Midwest.
Whether you had a rock collection in a shoe box under your bed in elementary school, or adorn your living space with these captivating formations, use crystals for spiritual practice or just find the sheer variety of chemical composition fascinating, there’s plenty to admire and learn about in the world of rocks. And these Kansas City-area stores are a great place to start.
Neat rocks
Perfect Point Crystal Co.
/
Perfect Point Crystal Co. is the newest rock shop in the area. The company started in 2017 and opened a brick-and-mortar in Shawnee, Kansas in 2023, run by Robert Head and Sarah Klem, with the goal to “share the natural beauty of minerals with anyone and everyone,” Head says.
While much of their business is garnered from traveling to gem and mineral shows and online sales, the physical shop allows them to share their passion with the local community, displaying curated high-quality materials in their mineral gallery.
“Our material is not ordered on demand,” says Head. “We are at the mercy of what the earth provides when the incredibly hard-working miners go looking. Everything is procured, hand picked, inspected, and scrutinized.”
Brookside Toy & Science has surely been the origin point for many young rockhounds. Beyond the games, puzzles, toys and dolls at the front of the store, the cases in the back display an array of minerals and fossils tucked between the taxidermy and science kits, often priced within a child’s budget.
Summit’s Steps Minerals, in Lawrence, started in 2009 and sells both display minerals and fine jewelry.
And if you want to completely surround yourself with these natural splendors, consider sourcing materials from House of Rocks in Merriam, which began life as a rock shop in the 1970s before transitioning into landscaping supplies and building materials.
Healing and spirituality
Libby Hanssen
/
KCUR 89.3
Crystals have long been believed to share healing qualities, and a few shops around Kansas City cater to this metaphysical purpose.
Owner Barbara Criswell started the Westport new age shop Aquarius in 1989, with “crystals displayed in margarine tubs and one small shelf of books.” The store in Westport is now the largest metaphysical store in the Midwest, with materials for spiritual practice from many different traditions.
The store has a large inventory of minerals and crystals, ranging from one dollar to thousands. Many are displayed with the material’s healing qualities described and available both rough and tumbled smooth.
Staff are available to answer questions, describe attributes, and make recommendations. Finding the right crystal from the hundreds available is a hands-on process.
Oracle Natural Science, on 18th Street in the Crossroads, sells a curated selection of crystals, minerals and fossils, along with ritual supplies, skulls and bones, taxidermy, insects, candles, and other items from the natural world. The shop also sells their self-published Oracle original “Crystal Guide” to help get you started.
On the Kansas side, you can visit Gemini, a metaphysical crystal shop and salt spa in Merriam. Materials are sourced from around the world, with information about using the minerals in tandem with other materials.
Inventory also includes petrified wood, fossils, and crystals carved into dragon heads, affixed to wands, and shaped into daggers, plinths, and pyramids. The shop also has some kid-friendly and tongue-in-cheek aspects, like a display of rock candy and ring pops.
Along with a variety of crystals and other spiritual materials on display, Crescent Springs in Overland Park also offers a selection of classes, as does The Energy Within, which shares a Crystal Library, organizing the online crystals and stones alphabetically and by property, healing category, chakra and shape.
Described as a “hip hippy boutique,” Lawrence staple Third Planet sells crystals while “proudly serving the counter culture for over 30 years.”
Find your fellow rockhounds
Whether you already have an extensive collection of agate, amethyst, and azurite, or you’ve just become quartz-curious, joining a local chapter of the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies can help you learn more and meet fellow rockhounds, show off your collection, and even trade and travel. AFMS also has youth resources for budding rockhounds.
Local groups include the Show-Me Rockhounds, which meet monthly at the Waldo branch of the Kansas City Public Library, and the Olathe Gem and Mineral Society, who hold their monthly meetings at Hope Chapel on Blackbob Road.
If you’re keen to collect specimens first hand, make sure you have permission to collect on private land and don’t collect from protected land.
For instance, taking rocks from Missouri State Parks is prohibited. The Bureau of Land Management sets guidelines for rockhounding on public lands, as long as it’s not for commercial purposes.
Some clubs arrange field trips for their members, visiting places that might otherwise be inaccessible. Of course, many minerals and crystals come from deep within the ground, so it’s also important to research the provenance of a specimen and how it was procured, ensuring it’s ethically sourced.
Kansas
Child killed after being struck by Amazon delivery vehicle in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A child is dead after being struck by an Amazon delivery vehicle Monday night in Kansas City.
The Kansas City Police Department responded to the incident just before 6:30 p.m. in the area of East Missouri Avenue and Lexington Avenue in Kansas City’s Historic Northeast neighborhood.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a marked Amazon delivery vehicle had just completed a package delivery in the area. Police said after the delivery, the driver of the vehicle began traveling westbound on East 3rd Terrace toward Woodland Avenue.
Police said at the same time, a child, under the age of 5, was playing in a grassy area of a nearby public park. The child entered the roadway and was struck by the Amazon delivery vehicle.
The Amazon driver initially stopped at the scene but left before officers arrived, according to police.
Police said a family member attempted to follow the Amazon vehicle and inform the driver of what had happened. The driver denied involvement and left the area.
The child was pronounced dead as a result of the injuries, according to police.
Kansas City police said the investigation remains active and ongoing.
Kansas
Defiance also draw in Kansas City
The Tacoma Defiance continued a weekend of Seattle vs Kansas soccer with a draw against Sporting Kansas City II. The Sporting second team has not been immune to the struggles in Kansas City, as they have started the season with six points through 9 games and a -15 goal difference. With a Defiance starting lineup featuring six players on first-team contracts, taking home three points should have been the expectation.
The first half was eerily similar to Saturday with Defiance dominating the run of play but entering the locker room with a 1-1 draw. They conceded the opening goal in the 40th minute where Charlie Gaffney and Cody Baker did not organize themselves well to cover the cross from the left side. That cross found an unmarked Shane Donovan who was able to score off a header to the near post, past academy goalkeeper Noah Newman in his first start of 2026.
Five minutes later, Baker equalized with a golazo from 25 yards out that was ripped into the upper right corner. This shot came off a clearance but the sequence right before was representative of how dangerous the left side of the team was. Peter Kingston found a cross-field ball to Sebastian Gomez, his combination play with Codey Phoenix and ability to create space on the dribble led to the cross.
The second half was more evenly played throughout but ended the same as the first with a goal apiece. The Defiance first-teamers came through in the 57th minute when Gomez received the ball on the left touchline, dribbled and centered for Osaze De Rosario. He made a nice move around the defender and slotted the ball in the corner from the top of the box.
SKC II scored in the 63rd minute on a corner after the initial ball wasn’t cleared. It bounced around before landing to previous goal scorer Donovan whose shot was on target but got a slight touch from Tega Ikoba.
With regulation ending in a draw, the teams went to a PK shootout where Defiance won 4–2 after Newman made two saves. Edson Carli converted the winning spot kick.
Overview
Lineup

Stats
xG

Shots

Key performers
Sebastian Gomez
Gomez is making the left winger position his own, consistently being a dangerous outlet and getting an assist in his second straight game. His dribbling and passing ability make him a creative machine out wide and he is finding dangerous passes forward illustrated by his four key passes on the evening. He also finds the pass before the pass, like in the 46th minute when he finds a little through ball from top of the box to Tsukanome on the right side of the box. This led to a dangerous cross to De Rosario but was really kickstarted by Gomez. He has grown throughout the year thus far and looks to be hitting a strong run of form.
Peter Kingston
Kingston returned to the double-pivot in this one and showed why this is probably his best position moving forward. He set the tempo for the team, keeping possession with 86% passing on 58 attempts. However, he also knew when to take the chance and had two key passes of his own. His best pass of the evening was in the 11th minute when he broke two lines on a through ball to Mark O’Neill. His versatility is a key factor in getting as many minutes as he has with the first team but performances like tonight make the case on where he should be long term.
Osaze De Rosario
De Rosario got a run out a day earlier with the first team and followed that up with a start for Defiance. He wasn’t quite as involved as is ideal with only 3 total shots but he was also in the right positions and close to finishing in the 2nd and 46th minute. He did ultimately find the back of the net in the 57th minute after receiving the ball at the top of the box, beating his defender to open up space and placing his shot in the corner. The longer run out and seeing the ball hit the back of the net will hopefully get him some rhythm for his next appearance at the first team.
Highlights
Replay
Kansas
Three Potential Bench Pieces Bill Self Can Bolster Kansas’ Roster With
The Kansas basketball program has made several notable additions since the transfer portal opened, landing three newcomers to round out the starting five. More importantly, the Jayhawks were able to secure top-ranked 2026 prospect Tyran Stokes, one of the most talented high school recruits Bill Self has ever acquired.
It has been an eventful offseason for the coaching staff, but its work in the portal is not done yet. KU still has four scholarships to fill out and will need to use one or two to add impact players off the bench.
Even if KU doesn’t land another starting-caliber transfer, it will need significantly more help on the second unit, especially in the backcourt. These are three players the Jayhawks have been in contact with and are considered strong options for the team next year.
3. James White (New Orleans)
A former Ole Miss, UAB, and New Orleans guard, James White has endured a tumultuous collegiate career, but averaged 19.2 points and 7.0 rebounds at his last stop. He is a 6-foot-5 wing who can get downhill with ease and would provide instant offense on the second unit.
White has become somewhat of a forgotten name since being involved in a sports gambling investigation two seasons ago, but he is reportedly drawing interest from top programs like Kansas and has likely been cleared by the NCAA. If KU is willing to take a chance on his controversial background, White would be an excellent rim-running guard for the staff to pursue.
2. Vyctorius Miller (Oklahoma State)
Miller took a visit to Kansas last month and hasn’t been closely linked to the program since. However, he remains one of the Jayhawks’ top targets as they look to add another bench piece.
The former Oklahoma State guard averaged 10.8 points and 2.7 rebounds in 32 games (26 starts) for the Cowboys this past season. If he is willing to take on a smaller role at KU, he could help replace the departures of Elmarko Jackson and Jamari McDowell in the backcourt.
1. Abdi Bashir Jr. (Kansas State)
Bashir Jr. completed a Zoom call with the KU coaching staff last week and has been on the radar of Jayhawk fans since. His skill set would fit perfectly as a sixth man off KU’s bench.
After playing two years at Monmouth, where he earned All-CAA honors as a sophomore, Bashir transferred to Kansas State for his junior campaign. He averaged 13.2 points, 2.3 assists, and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 44.4% from 3-point range on 8.4 attempts per game.
It has been a while since the Jayhawks have had a 3-point shooter as prolific as Bashir. The rest of his game, including his defense, may be a question mark, but Kansas could desperately use a flamethrower who can swing a game instantly with his outside shooting.
Follow
-
Washington2 minutes ago
Why is the protester still on top the Frederick Douglass Bridge in DC?
-
Wisconsin8 minutes agoPackers award $100K in grants to help launch girls flag football teams in Wisconsin high schools
-
West Virginia14 minutes ago
Verizon outage reported in West Virginia
-
Wyoming20 minutes agoStatewide candidates split on Wyoming GOP’s plans to defy state law and make endorsements
-
Crypto26 minutes agoTriple Win for Bitcoin ETFs With $532M Inflow While Ethereum Adds $61M
-
Finance32 minutes ago
Over 60? These 4 financial moves might offer your best ‘return’ on investment
-
Fitness38 minutes agoAre Upright Rows Bad for Shoulders? How to Build Bigger Delts Without Injury – Muscle & Fitness
-
Movie Reviews50 minutes agoBrian Miller Movie Review: Apex