Welcome Granite Railway Quarry: Rules and Regulations to the Quincy Then and Now For your safety, the following are prohibited: Swimming or diving Quarries Historic Site In 1985 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts pur- Alcoholic beverages chased 22 acres that include Granite Railway Motorized vehicles The 22 acres surrounding Granite Railway Quarry Quarry. Opened in 1830, this historic quarry was Dumping or littering create the centerpiece of this DCR historic site. In initially known as Pine Hill Ledge and granite Destruction, removal and injury of vegetation, addition, the Department of Conservation and from here was used to finish the Bunker Hill animals, structures or artifacts Recreation manage an adjoining 90 acres of Monument. Granite Railway was actively quarried Hunting, trapping and the possession of any quarry remains and historic resources preserved until the early 1940’s. Since that time the quarry firearms, bow and arrow or explosive devices by the Commonwealth. The DCR Quincy began to fill with water which seeped through the Open fires Quincy Quarries Quarries Historic Site is adjacent to the scenic horizontal cracks and fissures characteristics of All visitors must follow the direction of Park per- Blue Hills Reservation comprising the largest granite geology. Granite Railway and the quarries sonnel or Police. Any violation of these regula- Historic Site of West Quincy became famous, or infamous for open space within 35 miles of Boston. tions may result in arrest and/or fine per order of Blue Hills Reservation swimming and diving. In 1999, it was decided that MGLC 92, S.37 CMR 350 2.01 Taken for Granite the near 300 foot depths of the Granite Railway Quarry posed a public safety threat ad the quarry America’s large scale granite quarrying industry was drained and filled. The newly landscaped Directions was born in 1825 when, after an exhaustive Granite Railway Quarry was reopened to the search throughout New England, Solomon MBTA: public in 2003, sparking a renewed interest in rock Willard selected West Quincy as the source of Red Line to Quincy Center, take MBTA bus #215 climbing, hiking, picnicking and scenic viewing. stone for the Bunker Hill Monument in to Copeland and Willard Streets, turn left on Today the Quincy Quarries Historic Site preserves Charlestown. Here, Mr. Willard earned the title, Willard, cross under the Expressway and take the a rich industrial landscape while providing a “Father of the Granite Industry”, with his first right onto Ricciuti Drive. The Quarries are ¼ unique open space for recreation and discovery. development of the revolutionary construction mile on the right. techniques that made hard Quincy granite a practical building stone. By car: From the south: Take Route 93 to Furnace brook To carry stone form the quarries, the Granite parkway (Exit 8) follow signs to Willard Street Railway was established in 1826. The Railway, and cross under Route 93. Take the first right onto a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, Ricciuti Drive at Men’s Warehouse and a large was a pioneer in the American railroad industry. “Quarry Hills” sign. The Quarries are ¼ mile on Gridley Bryant engineered its design and the right. construction, and many of his inventions are still From the North: Take Route 93 to Furnace Brook in use today. Parkway (Exit 8) turn right on Ricciuti Drive, be- During the next 140 years, over fifty quarries tween Men’s Warehouse and a large “Quarry operated in Quincy, which became known Hills” sign: The Quarries are ¼ mile on the right. nationwide as “The Granite City”. Quincy granite was valued for its extreme hardness, dark color For more information contact: and ability to take a high polish. Quincy granite DCR South Region Headquarters was used in the construction of some of the most 695 Hillside Street impressive granite buildings, monuments, sculp- Milton, MA 02186 tures and fortifications across the nation, includ- 617-698-1802 ing customs houses in Boston, Savannah, New Orleans and San Francisco. The last active quarry Visit the DCR at www.mass.gov/dcr closed in 1963. 5/17/11 tb