The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show is held every year in February for two weeks. It is one of the largest and most well-known gem and mineral shows in the world, and it features many of the finest mineral specimens available. There is no single location for display of minerals, but rather dozens of locations spread across town: many big hotels and most motels are occupied for the occasion, with professionals displaying their specimens in such locations as hotel bedrooms, lobbies, tents, and lawns. The show has an estimated attendance of more than 50,000 people from over twenty countries. Attendees frequently include the general public, experts, beginning collectors, museum employees, dealers, retailers, and researchers. Many museums and universities, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Sorbonne, have displayed materials at the show.