Royal Danby Marble was used for renovations of the New York State Court of Appeals in Albany. Image by Matt H. Wade at Wikipedia. 

While Italy has always been known as the home of the world’s most beautiful marble, it has some competition these days. As it turns out, some of the most breathtaking, durable marble in the world is actually right in our back yard—in Vermont! 

Vermont may be more recognized for maple syrup and cheese than fine natural stone and historically significant architecture, but the famous Danby Marble Quarry in Vermont’s Dorset Mountain has been producing amazing marble for over 100 years.  In fact, it was the first marble quarry in the United States and it’s the largest underground marble quarry in the world! Established in the 1850s, the outside of the quarry looks the same today as it did back then. Inside, the quarry twists and turns over a mile-and-a-half deep. 
 
You’re likely wondering what makes Danby Marble so special. Marble is marble, right? Well, that’s not entirely true. Danby Marble is actually an exceptionally durable marble. It’s a very dense stone that is less likely to stain than other types of marble. Danby Marble has the lowest absorption rate of any kind of marble, ranging between .06 to .08 percent. By comparison, Bianco Carrara’s rate is .13 percent, Statuario is .15 percent and Arabescato Vagli and Calacatta Delicato are .17 percent and .18 percent, respectively. What this means is that Danby Marble is far less likely to absorb stain-causing substances that might cause permanent damage to the stone. 

Marble from the Danby Quarry has played an important role in U.S. history, further adding to its appeal. Danby varieties have been used on some of the most famous structures in America such as the Thomas Jefferson memorial, the United States Supreme Court, and Arlington National Amphitheatre in D.C., as well as the Massachusetts State House in Boston, the Beinecke Library at Yale, the Court of Appeals in Albany, and the Jacob Javitz Federal Building exterior landscaping in New York City. Plus, since it’s quarried right here in the United States, purchasing Danby marble helps to support U.S. jobs and the local economy, not to mention the pride that comes with owning such a beautiful stone that’s “Made in the USA.” 
 
The most popular marble that comes from the Danby quarry is Imperial Danby. With soft gray and gold veins, it is a beautiful choice for elegant kitchen countertops or showers, vanities, and tub surrounds in the bath. While Imperial Danby is most popular, it makes up less than ten percent of all the marble quarried in the mountain. Because so little is quarried, this causes high demand for Imperial Danby marble. Some wholesalers will try to pass off other varieties that are more readily available using the generic “Danby” name, but all Danby marbles are not the same. Be aware of this fact when you are shopping and don’t pay more unless you are 100 percent sure it’s actually Imperial Danby. 

One of the oldest Danby granites to come from the quarry is Danby Grey.  Gray in color with a mix of white Danby in the background, this variety has a long history of use throughout North America. Examples of other varieties of marble from the Danby quarry include: 
 
Appalachian Green Danby: Green veining with subtle hints of Danby White in the background 
 
Olympian White Danby and Mountain White Danby: Gray diagonal veins with a very white background. 
 
Fantastico Danby:  Dramatic and stunning swirls of grey, taupe and white.
 
Eureka Danby: Darker gold and gray veins, often compared to Calacatta Gold 
Montclair Danby: Greenish to gray veins typically running diagonally or horizontally 
 
Crystal Stratus Danby: Gray, green with a touch of peach crystalline veins

And the newest color to come from the Danby Quarry, Florentine Blue will be available this summer. A deep blue grey tone with the same durability as all the Danby marbles

If you’ve been considering Italian marble for your project, be sure to check out all of the options from Vermont before you make a final choice. Visit one of our three Northeastern Marble & Granite, Inc. showroom locations where we can show you all the styles of Danby marble that are available. We can even show you how they compare to Italian varieties since we carry those too. Either way you choose, your project is sure to bring you joy for decades—even centuries—to come! Give us a call at 877 39 STONE.