Hi there, I’m Roger Brooks we recently visited the world’s largest kaleidoscope store in none other than Jerome, Arizona.
To start things off, Jerome is a town that was once home to 15,000 miners, bootleggers, and prostitutes but today is home to about 450 of the most creative people you’ll ever meet.
Located about an hour and a half Northwest of Phoenix and a 45-minute drive West of Sedona, Jerome is home to Nellie Bly Kaleidoscopes and this store, all by itself, makes Jerome worth a special trip.
The owners fell in love with Kaleidoscopes after purchasing one for $18.00 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Nearly 20 years later, they opened up this incredible shop - the largest kaleidoscope store in the world.
The shop features more than 100 amazing kaleidoscope artists with specialties in wood, glass and every kind of metal you can imagine. You’ll find more than 1,000 kaleidoscopes ranging from just a few dollars to incredible works of art selling in the thousands of dollars.
You could spend all day in this amazing shop and still not look into every kaleidoscope on display. And if you have a hankering to make your own, the shop offers classes in October so you can do just that.
Every time I come here, I am simply awed by the beautiful displays. It really is a gallery like no other anywhere on earth.
The next time you’re in Arizona, make sure to add Jerome and Nellie Bly Kaleidoscopes to your bucket list. Upcoming, I’ll be doing a feature on the other great reasons to visit this great little town.
Until next time, keep on exploring.