Arusha Municipality has opened a Tanzanite gems' museum which is said to be the first one ever. The museum is located on the third floor of the Blue Plaza building in Arusha Tanzania Tanzanite Foundation a subsidiary of Tanzanite-One Mining Limited is behind the preparations of the museum. Tanzanite stones are only found, and mined, around the rocky Mererani hills, in the Simanjiro district of Manyara region.

The museum is set to help tourists who will be interested in the history of Tanzanite stones and their mining processes. And this will be achieved through a documentary film which will be showed. The space will include special shopping areas for Tanzanite, a coffee bar and training center. Entry fee will be US $10 at the door. Tanzanite is a beautiful gem, but with moderate hardness and perfect cleavage, it is less than ideal for wearing in jewelry. Its closest look-alike, iolite, wears much better and costs less.