Gold card…gold series…goldfish. One thing is certain: gold is everywhere. And in fashion, gold graces runways season after season as the accent of choice, from chunky shoes at Michael Kors to handbags at Prada. But every fashionista knows that few trends stick around for more than one season, so what gives? To get to the source, we visited the Museum of Natural History’s summer gold exhibit for an up close and personal look at the mainstay metal.

Displaying over a ton of gold in various forms, the impressive exhibition detailed the history of the substance and the ways we’re using it today. Over the span of thousands of years, chasing gold has motivated everything from money hungry explorers to inspired designers. As a beacon of wealth, spirituality, and beauty, it’s no wonder that the shiny material has so much symbolism. From the highest awards like Grammys and Oscars to the special pendants we wear around our necks, there’s a story behind every piece of bling.

Did you know?

• Gold’s Latin name, aurum, means "glowing dawn."
• All the gold that has ever been refined throughout history could be placed in a cube measuring 65.5 feet (20 meters) on a side.
• Gold changes color when it’s alloyed with other metals. In addition to the yellow and white varieties we see most often, variations include green gold and pink gold.
• The "Hand of Faith" is the largest gold nugget known to exist today. The 60-pound specimen is currently on display at the Golden Nugget casino in Las Vegas.
• Today, India is the largest consumer of gold in the world. It looks like we have some catching up to do!
• Almost 40 percent of all the gold ever mined was found in South African rocks. (top secret: Alex’s newest collection is inspired by her recent trip to South Africa)
• Just a small amount of pure gold can be remarkably heavy. A one-foot square cube is roughly the size of a ton of pure gold!