Rock of Ages Granite Quarry — Attraction in Graniteville-East Barre

This was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The staff was lovely... Polite, accommodating and knowledgeable! The grounds and info center are super clean and inviting even though this is a manufacturing area, you get to see them at work and enjoy a full tour of the place, including the Quarry itself which was a few minutes drive from the info center area so you follow the leader until you get up this hill and then from the parking lot, you are within a minute walk to a fenced area, overlooking the Quarry. You can take endless photos/videos of the people at work, crunching away at the pieces of granite. You also get to see them in the factory, as they make tombstones and other projects, right in front of your eyes! Very cool! It was $7 a person to take this tour and they are limiting the number of people per tour so make sure you get a reservation so you don't miss out. They also let you take scrap pieces home, if you wanted to have a little token of the place (There's a bin full of pieces outside and they tell you, you can help yourself!) Within the welcome center, they do sell different pieces and we were happy to take home a really awesome business card holder that my husband took to work. The prices are up there so I can't say it was a cheap purchase but they also have cutting boards, wine cooler ice buckets, frames, etc and it's one of those things that you don't do every day so we made an exception and enjoyed the experience! Also, go when the weather is nice so you can spend more time outside. There's a life size bowling lane and they let you play before and after the tours are running. You'll need at least 1-2 hours if you're rushing this tour but otherwise, up to 3 or so, to enjoy reading everything. I wanted to also mention that you do have to do some walking so comfy safe shoes since you do also have to go up stairs, in order to see the factory part of the tour as well. Overall, we do highly recommend this experience if you are in that...

The Rock of Ages Quarry in Barre, Vermont is one of the largest and oldest granite quarries in the world—and it’s still active today. Opened in the late 1800s, this site has produced some of the finest gray granite used in monuments, memorials, and buildings across the country. The quarry plunges more than 600 feet deep, and the massive stone walls are cut with near-vertical precision using powerful cables and saws like the ones in this image.

Visitors can tour the quarry, watch artisans carve stone in the factory, and even try their hand at sandblasting. It’s a fascinating glimpse into Vermont’s industrial heritage and the artistry of stonework that helped shape much of America’s built...

Very unique sight and educational tour. We got lost at first trying to find the visitor center with google maps, be sure to use Rock of Ages Visitors Center 558 Graniteville Road Graniteville, VT 05654 for the address. You need to park at the visitor center and they drive you to the top of the quarry. The tour guide at the quarry was very friendly and informative. There is also a video you can watch before the tour for more info. Then at the end you can also take a self guided tour through the factory where the workers actually make the monuments from the stone. Very interesting and beautiful work from the sculptors. It really helps you understand why the monuments are...