Burnie's Rock Shop

Burnie’s Rock Shop is one of the premiere earth science stores in the Midwest. Founded in 1962 by Burnell “Burnie” Franke in Madison, Wisconsin, the shop began as an outlet for Burnie’s interest in rock hounding and gem cutting (lapidary). From its first location in the basement of the local YMCA, and later a storefront on Monroe Street, the shop offered for sale the rock and fossil specimens collected by Burnie, his family and employees. Soon, it came to supply students, teachers and craftspeople with supplies and tools for all aspects of jewelry making and lapidary, with an inventory augmented by minerals and gems from every corner of the globe.