's Capital and its Granite A state with an interesting beginning. First settled by Paleo‐Indians over 8,000 years ago as the ice age ended, it wasn't until the mid‐1500s and early 1600s when the French explores such as Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain claimed the land as New France. Another European country also settled the land in the early 18th century. They were the British, but who would dominate the French after being defeated in the French and Indian War. It was also not one of the 13 colonies because of its desire to be independent during the Revolutionary War. However, it became America's 14th state in 1790. Vermont got its name from the French, "montagne verte," Green Mountain State. Many other interesting facts about Vermont from the ‐Mohican‐Pennacook‐Pocomtuc Indian tribes of Vermont, first ski lift, first same sex civil unions, issuing the first Social Security check, Montpelier being the smallest capital in US in terms of population, how and colonists laid claim to Vermont and other facts can be read on the following sources. Montpelier was first settled by Colonel Jacob Davis and chartered in 1878 from a grant to settlers from . Davis also gave the capital its name after a French city called Montpelier. During its period of being a republic, the Winooski River and other transportation routes gave it an opportunity to grow. By 1804, Montpelier had about 1200 residents. It was selected by the State Legislature to be its capital because of its central location in the state. This photo program focuses on Vermont's granite. Barre and Bethel still quarry granite which began in the late 1800s. Granite's geologic history dates to over 60 million years ago. Barre's granite is still the most desirable granite in the world. "Superior weather resistance paired with fine grain and texture make this natural attribute of Vermont ultimate, long‐lasting choice in any finish." "The granite has become famous for its ability to hold finely carved details and to appear strikingly different using various tools. Barre gray granite is made of a well‐blended, interlocking mesh of small crystals of gray feldspar, black mica, and gray to white quartz. It glitters in the light thanks to its mica and is given its strength by its feldspar and quartz." Barre is in Washington County, seven miles from Montpelier. Its Barre Granite Association was formed in 1889 to prepare for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. In 1900, there were nearly 70 quarriers and more than a hundred manufacturers. The number of workers at that time was estimated to be over 3,500 men.

The Rock of Ages is one of Barre's oldest quarrying operations. Today, the quarry reaches a depth of 600 feet and between 50 to 60 square acres. Barre's granite is solid grey stone. The black streaks you see below are caused by ground‐water seepage. Today, the floor has an opaque turquoise water base from the minerals mixed with clear water. The Rock of Ages quarry has been open to visitors since 1924. It is also the only quarry still open in Barre, Vermont. Sources: https://www.ereferencedesk.com/resources/state‐history‐timeline/vermont.html, http://www.vtgranitemuseum.org/, https://vermonthistory.org/, https://www.montpelier‐vt.org/552/History‐of‐Montpelier, https://u‐s‐history.com/pages/h2199.html, https://www.history.com/topics/us‐states/vermont, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montpelier,_Vermont , https://www.vermontvacation.com/things‐to‐ do/made‐in‐vermont/granite, https://www.vpr.org/post/digging‐history‐rock‐ages#stream/0, https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/centralvermont/vhistory1.htm, http://www.destination360.com/north‐america/us/vermont/history, http://www.destination360.com/north‐america/us/vermont/history, https://www.ducksters.com/geography/us_states/vermont_history.php, https://www.americanancestors.org/earlyvermont.aspx, https://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/history‐of‐native‐americans/history‐of‐vermont‐ indians.htm and https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2018/01/13/history‐space‐vermonts‐granite‐sculptors/109428552/. acuri.net John R. Vincenti Vermont's Capital and its Granite