La Tierra Mineral Gallery is a blast from the past at the Hammock Shops Village
Tucked in the middle of the Hammock Shops Village on the mainland of Pawleys Island, there is a unique store you might call a hidden gem.
La Tierra Mineral Gallery combines nature and art in its displays of thousands of mineral specimens from around the world, available in natural, polished, and carved forms.
The carved forms include onyx house wares such as plates, bowls, mortar and pestles, goblets, wine chillers and various size lamps, candleholders made from many different minerals, spheres, hearts, and animal carvings.
La Tierra also showcases jewelry with diverse stones and original styles that are handmade artisan pieces and a large inventory of metaphysical items both nature made and handcrafted from a variety of different minerals.
“Step inside our gallery and explore a world of geological treasures that reveal the earth’s breathtaking beauty,” said store owner Holly Benson. “Our handpicked selection includes rare minerals, vibrant crystals, and unique specimens sourced from around the globe, each chosen for its remarkable quality and visual appeal.”
Benson has been the owner since 1996 and opened the gallery at the John Dunn Shops in Taos, New Mexico, before relocating it to its current location in Pawleys Island in July 2017. She is a geologist by profession and divides her time between Houston, Texas, Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and worldwide excursions for business, and to purchase products for La Tierra Mineral Gallery. The original Taos gallery closed in March 2024.
“The gallery’s mission is to create a beautiful space in which people of all ages can come to appreciate the incredible beauty that is the mineral kingdom, and to provide a fun, relaxed shopping experience,” Benson said. “To that end, La Tierra Mineral Gallery carries items in all price ranges to accommodate both collectors and those who are just learning about minerals and fossils.”
The knowledgeable team at La Tierra Mineral Gallery welcomes visitors daily at 10880 Ocean Highway, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, with occasional special events. For more information about La Tierra Mineral Gallery, click here, or call (843) 344-0184. For current information on La Tierra events, visit the store’s Facebook page here.
By Clayton Stairs / tourism manager for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast®