Vermont Granite Museum

Located within an authentic turn-of-the-century granite manufacturing plant, the museum's mission is to create stimulating, interactive environments for learning about the geology, technology, history, and art of Vermont's unique granite heritage art, industry, capabilities and cultural heritage.

We have a rich collection of video taped interviews with quarry workers, owners, sculptors which tell stories of Barre's development and growth in the graite industry. We are currently cataloguing these interviews and transferring them from VHS to DVD for their preservation. These interview along with ephemera, and memorabilia donated to us by the families of Barre, create a historical record and picture of Barre.

The sheer size of our building is astonishing to many visitors. This 25,000 square foot shed was the largest manufacturing shed of its kind when built in 1895. It is a long timber frame building now supported by steel trusses, which were added in its the renovation phase completed in 2002. In its renovation, the entire building was enveloped in a replica of itself. This was a huge and expensive undertaking in which a new exterior was built over the original. This allowed us to completely insulate the building while preserving the look and feel of the original raw interior timber frame, while also presenting the exterior as it would have looked. Because the width of the building was increased to accommodate insulation, new windows cases had to be build to the Dept of the Interior specifications for an historic building on the National Register. A new foundation in concrete was also set under the building requiring the entire shed to be lifted on jacks while this was installed.

We have a collection of large tools which illustrate the changes and development made in manufacturing technology. We have plans for the installation of two blacksmith shops. One, donated to us from the Anderson Freiberg Company, will be a static example of a historic blacksmith shop illustrating their historic use and integral position in sharpening and making of tools need in cutting granite. The second blacksmith shop will be operating and will provide live demonstrations for our visitors.

We will also be including an area with in our Museum for our local stone artists and manufacturers to sell and showcase their work. We want our community as well as visitors to know what we make in Barre, and the level of beauty and artistry that comes from our sculptors.

Our Stone Arts School will be open to visitors to observe our students and the process of working in granite. These live demonstrations give visitors a chance to see up close how granite is worked and even ask our sculptors questions.

The museum also now has an "Annex" at the General Stone on Millstone Hill, 34 Old Church Road. This is a three room exhibit with in the general store that explains the history and impact of quarrying in Central Vermont and specifically on Millstone Hill. The Annex is open when the General Store is open which is year round.

Mission Statement

"Our Vermont Granite Museum mission is to preserve, honor and showcase Vermont's granite heritage."

"We envision a museum that draws people to Barre and engages a broader community through hands-on experience, outreach, and education. Our vision includes building a collection and creating displays that celebrate stone art, trades, and Barre's manufactured stone products."

"Our Stone Arts School mission is to make the school become North America's premier source of information and education for stone arts, trades and manufacturing."

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