Smithsonian adds aquamarine to collection of precious gems

WASHINGTON » The world’s largest cut aquamarine gem will soon go on display in its new home at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

The museum unveiled the obelisk-shaped Dom Pedro gem Thursday for long-term display. The blue-green crystal was mined in Brazil in the late 1980s and is named for Brazil’s first two emperors. The gem stands 14 inches tall and weighs 10,363 carats — or nearly 5 pounds.

National Gem Collection Curator Jeffrey Post said museum visitors will be drawn to it because of its color and size as it joins the Hope Diamond and Marie Antoinette earrings on display. It’s difficult to place a value on the gem, though it was offered to the Smithsonian in the late 1990s for $7 million to $10 million, Post said.

The gem was carved from an original crystal that was dropped and broke into three pieces. The other pieces were cut into jewelry.

Boat company to pay New York $105M for Niagara Falls tours

ALBANY, N.Y. » A deal has been struck to keep the Maid of the Mist scenic tour boats running from the New York side at Niagara Falls.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the boat company will pay the state $105 million over 30 years and has agreed to invest $32 million in continuing operations that will provide more state revenue through the Niagara Falls State Park.

The agreement also will lead to improvements for the tourist attraction, potentially including rock climbing and rappelling.

The family-owned tour boat company will make improvements at a former power station nearby to create a winter storage and maintenance facility.

Disney opens new Fantasyland in Orlando

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. » Walt Disney World is showcasing the grand opening of the largest expansion in the park’s 41-year history.

The theme park near Orlando opened its new Fantasyland on Thursday.

The project includes new and re-imagined attractions inspired by classic Disney stories and characters like "Dumbo," "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid."

Also opening is Beast’s Castle, which sports a restaurant using touch-screen kiosks.

A ride called Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is still under construction and will open in 2014.

Fantasyland is part of the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. The expansion also preserved many long-standing favorite attractions like Cinderella Castle and the ride based on "It’s a Small World."