Barre (pronounced BARE-ee) was known as the "Granite Capital of the World" during the 1800s. The downtown of this small city 35 mi/55 km southeast of Burlington still stands as one of the finest collections of granite buildings in New England, and Hope Cemetery has one of the most incredible displays of granite memorial statuary in the U.S.
Visit the Barre Museum, located in the Aldrich Library, which has exhibits depicting local history. Also, take a look at the impressive 19th-century Barre Opera House, or attend a concert or play there.
Just outside of town, in Graniteville, you can visit the Rock of Ages granite quarries. The guided tour takes you from the blasting of the quarry walls to the polishing of the heavy blocks of stone.
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