What it is

The Central Dakota Gem & Mineral Society (CDG&MS) is a membership gem, mineral and lapidary club based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Its home page says it was established in 1966, is based out of Bismarck with members from around the state, and is a group with “a diverse interest in all things rock, gem, mineral, lapidary, geocaching, fossils, wire-wrapping, and more.” It is affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies (RMFMS) and the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies (AFMS).

Who it’s for

Rockhounds, cabochon cutters, fossil collectors, families and anyone in the Bismarck–Mandan area (and across North Dakota) interested in minerals, geology and lapidary. Visitors are welcome at regular meetings.

Why it’s listed

It’s an established membership club with its own website (not Facebook-only), a fixed public meeting place and 2026 calendar, printed dues, a mission that includes cutting and polishing gem materials, and a dated annual show. North Dakota’s first Lapidary Plaza listing.

Official URL

https://ndrockclub.org/

(All checked 2026-10-27 and returned HTTP 200 to curl with a Chrome user agent.)

Location

Monthly meetings: Bismarck Public Library, downstairs Room A, Bismarck, ND. Executive board at 1:00 p.m.; regular meeting at 2:00 p.m. Mailing address: PO Box 2445, Bismarck, ND 58502-2445. Email listed on the site: [email protected]. The 2026 annual show was at the Bismarck Eagles.

This is a club. It is not a store or a commercial school.

Notes

Meetings: generally the first Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m. in Room A. The 2026 calendar (updated 8/13/26 / 8/21/26 on the site) lists exceptions and special dates (for example March 15 and October 12 room-availability shifts; summer picnics at McDowell Dam and Sertoma Park). Guests are always welcome; show-and-tell identification of rocks, fossils, gems and minerals is invited.
Dues (printed on About / newsletter): Individual $20 / year; Family $25 / year.
Mission (About): includes helping members improve the art of cutting, polishing and mounting gem and mineral materials, plus field trips, education and public sharing.
Show: 52nd Annual Gem & Mineral Show — Saturday–Sunday, October 24–25, 2026 at the Bismarck Eagles (Friday Oct 23 set-up). On the check date (Oct 27) that show weekend had just concluded; the next printed meeting is November 1 (elections / show discussion), then December 6 (Christmas meeting).
Photo: the club’s own website logo (og:image / site logo; resized to 1200 × 1200).
Not affiliated with Lapidary Plaza. No email or form was used.

FAQ

Q: When and where does the club meet?
A: Generally the first Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m. in downstairs Room A of the Bismarck Public Library. Check the 2026 calendar PDF for exceptions and picnic dates.

Q: Do I have to be a member to attend a meeting?
A: Visitors are welcome. The site and newsletter say guests are always welcome to attend.

Q: Does the club care about lapidary?
A: Yes. The home page lists lapidary among member interests, and the mission includes cutting, polishing and mounting gem materials.

Q: How much are dues?
A: Individual $20 per year; family $25 per year (printed on About and in the 2026 newsletter).

Q: Does it hold a show?
A: Yes. The 52nd annual show was set for October 24–25, 2026 at the Bismarck Eagles.