The Arizona Mining & Mineral Museum in Phoenix shut down yesterday, according to blogger Dick Zimmerman, about a month earlier than many expected, to start its conversion to the tentatively named "Arizona Experience" in celebration of the Arizona Centennial in 2012.
The museum is expected to re-open in Fall 2012.
The Flagg Foundation and others who have minerals on loan to the museum began removing them last week in preparation for the remodeling.