vermont marble museum

The Vermont marble museum has so much history to offer the visitor and we only saw a small sign we followed after turning up at a castle we wanted to visit that we found closed.The museum is housed in the old marble factory in Proctor VT so as you pull in to the free factory car park and enter passing under a large arch made from square marble pieces with other pieces of marble scattered about in the garden area, you see the sign directing you in the door and upstairs to the museum. The fee is very reasonable for what is available to see in this museum. Also it was of great interest to us to learn they made the unknown solder tomb marble slab here as we had seen it in Washington DC when we visited it at the beginning of our 6 week visit of North East America & Canada. There is far to much here to mention it all but they supply a map of the museum and let me say we learnt things we never knew came from marble dust and saw such things of beauty made out of marble along with ways of using marble in the home, hotels, office buildings, commercial buildings and used in designing and building throughout the world.When we finally finished walking around this wonderful museum that shows the many ways marble can be used and the many things it has been used for years ago. We moved into the gift shop area where again some of the things we witnessed marble had been made into was so inventive and we just wished we could have bought a heaver item back home but of course we couldn't as it had to be taken back in our plane luggage?When we left we visited the garden area and discovered we could freely take a small piece of marble of our choice away with us.A great find we think and are so glad we found this marble factory and museum and experienced another thing of beauty and saw the many ways it has and is still used.Thank you for reading this John & Sue Webb Eastbourne UK.

What a unique town and fascinating Museum about the history of marble. The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable, plus u get free samples of marble.

We called ahead to find out if we could bring our small dog. They said yes! We loved the museum and talked to Allen the sculpture on site! We thought the exhibits were informative and interesting! If you love marble and beautiful stone this is a great museum. Gift shop was also full of options from very reasonable to expensive depending on your quest. We would visit again!

We had fully intended to go through the museum, but this was our last stop at the end of the day and we were worn out. We passed on the museum, but did visit the gift shop. It was quite nice and offered lots of different items made from marble. The walk from the parking lot to the building is made of marble as is pretty much everything inside. I love this stone and just admired the surrroundings!

I guess I was hoping to see some quarry mining but that wasn't the case. None-the-less, this was a good visit. We learned about how marble forms and what kinds of marble come from Vermont as well as other places around the world. The displays were well done and full of information. Especially interesting was the story about the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldiers. The displays of the different kinds of marble were interesting. There were lots of sculptures and even someone who was sculpting on site that you could watch and ask questions about what he was doing. OK - about the restrooms. They're all marble. It made me want to go home and remodel one of our bathrooms.There is a film about marble mining/quarrying as well as one about Omya Company (that might have been a bit self-serving, but it was very informative).The gift shop is nice too with a lot of selections from the inexpensive to very expensive items.All the folks working there were cordial and very helpful.

A large museum with a comprehensive review of the history, geology and technology of marble mining in Vermont. Start with the video on the Vermont Marble company, then tour the many rooms. It is interesting for children and adults, particularly if you are considering marble countertops for your new or remodeled kitchen and bath. Vermont marble found its way into many historic buildings in Washington, DC and elsewhere. The story of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers is particularly entrancing.

This was a very unexpected surprise. Two excellent videos followed by numerous display rooms with lots of history regarding marble production. In addition there is an amazing exhibit room devoted to geology called Earth Alive.

Having enjoyed several days in western Vermont, I know know that the state's heritage is maple syrup, mountains, and marble. This museum was our education in the third "m" in that list.The site itself is important, one the Proctor marble works, a major facility for finishing and selling the products of the state's marble quarries. To get there, you drive over a bridge built using Vermont marble that was processed here. The facility itself is spacious, and the displays sometimes seem to take up space. There is a wing devoted to general geology and earth science, the full display room that once served their sales unit is maintained, there's a generous gift shop, and one politely restrained wing where the Swiss company that bought them out a few decades ago promotes itself via routine corporate-speak.Of greatest interest to me was the display of marble statuary--and they keep an artist in residence who was working on a piece and also available for conversation while we were there.It looks like they are planning to expand their operation soon to include even more of the history of the place.

This museum was a pleasant surprise. The staff were polite, and the gift shop was well supplied with marble trinkets and other interesting items. Worth a visit.

Loved seeing the "Hall of Presidents" which had been sculpted in white marble on plaques and the other sculptures that you can see throughout the museum. Wonderful gift shop with some lovely items: jewelry,rolling pins, salt and pepper shakers, coasters,trivets all made in various colors of marble. If you need marble for rolling out your pastry, they had large pieces on sale for $25.00! Amazing bargain!

Thank you so much for coming, it is always a pleasure to chat with our visitors!

Our employees are the best! Desiree, Beverly, Helen, June, Eme, Megan, Mary Ellen, Ann Z. & Allen!

This is a wonderful museum with a lot of information and history to absorb. There is a wonderful gift shop to shop and explore. It is definitely worth visiting!

Thank you for your input - beginning 2014, we will be a non-profit, affiliated with the Preservation Trust of Vermont. Going forward, we hope to delve more into the history of the immigrant and local population that worked at the company, document their lives and track their descendants. Almost 1/4 of museum visitors have relatives that worked for the company in one of the many offices across the United States! We can't wait until we can move in this direction - so make sure to visit us again!

Nice museum with many displays showing the origin and history of marble in Vermont. Lots of art work with contributions from the sculptor in residence. He'll also demonstrate the steps in carving and finishing artwork. The large display of entire marble rooms and walls was impressive. Lots to buy in the gift shop too. You'll see marble used throughout this quiet little town.