In the early 1950s the property was opened as a public pay-to-prospect mine, and in 1951 the name was changed to the “Crater of Diamonds.” The State of Arkansas purchased the property in 1972 and began operating it as “Crater of Diamonds State Park.” It is still open year-round as a pay-to-prospect mine visited by over 100,000 people per year.

Most visitors do not find a diamond, but almost everyone has fun prospecting. Since the park opened in 1972, a little less than 3,000,000 paid visits to the park (“visits” is used instead of “visitors” because many people visit the Park many times) have resulted in about 30,000 reported diamond finds. Most of the diamonds found are very small – too small for cutting into a mountable stone. The 30,000 stones reported have an aggregate weight of a little under 6,000 carats, making the average stone about twenty points (.20 carat) in weight.

The diamonds and other minerals found at Crater of Diamonds State Park are genuine Arkansas minerals. They are not “salted” specimens brought in from other localities to enrich the soil or the collecting experience. Diamonds from the Park have unique characteristics, and experienced individuals are able to recognize them.

Strawn-Wagner Diamond: Photograph of the famous “Strawn-Wagner Diamond” found at the Park in 1990 by Shirley Strawn. It was the first stone to receive a perfect grade of 0/0/0 from the American Gem Society.