If you’ve ever wanted to hold a piece of a dinosaur, touch a meteorite, or browse jewelry formed by the Earth itself, Wonders of the World in Santa Monica has you covered. Just don’t expect much fanfare when this one-of-a-kind hybrid — its part museum, part jewelry store, part curiosity cabinet — marks its fifth anniversary on the Third Street Promenade this Sunday.
“We didn’t even have a grand opening party,” owner Henry Runge tells The Sun.
That low-key approach isn’t by accident. Runge, who once managed commercial shopping centers, was still reeling after his previous downtown location on Broadway and Lincoln Boulevard was completely looted during the April 2020 riots. “They took everything,” he remembers.
Thirteen months later, the South Side Chicago native was back — new space, new inventory, same obsession. And it is an obsession. “I have spent 40 years traveling the world and collecting,” he says. What began as a fascination with rare and beautiful natural objects has grown into a one-of-a-kind destination that educates, inspires, and surprises.
Runge’s shop is packed wall-to-wall with towering crystals, ancient fossils, rare minerals, and handcrafted gemstone jewelry, each one hand-selected.
Most of the foot traffic comes from tourists, local families, and collectors who know exactly what they’re looking at. But over the years, Wonders of the World has also attracted a steady stream of boldface names: Steven Spielberg, David Duchovny, and Goldie Hawn among them.
Over the years, Wonders of the World has sold more than one million items, with over 10,000 unique pieces currently in stock. And while not everyone may be looking to drop $950 on a 200 million year-old dinosaur footprint, “we have many items that start at just one dollar,” Runge says.
Wonders of the World is open most days after 4:00 pm, with private showings available by appointment. “Most of my bigger sales come in the evening, after 6 PM,” he notes. “Some nights I am here as late as 3 AM.”
For Runge, the late nights and low-key presence are all part of pursuing his passion. In a city built on spectacle, Wonders of the World remains something quieter — a place where the real draw isn’t what’s new, but what’s been here all along.
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