In 1985, the Metropolitan District Commission purchased 22 acres
including Granite Railway Quarry, adjacent to the Blue Hills
Reservation. It was here in West Quincy that America's large scale
granite quarrying industry was born in 1825 when, after an
exhaustive search throughout New England, Solomon Willard selected
the area as the source of stone for the Bunker Hill Monument in
Charlestown. With his development of the revolutionary construction
techniques that made hard Quincy granite a practical building
stone, Willard earned the title "Father of the Granite
Industry".
Here too the Granite Railway was established in 1826. The
Railway is a Civil Engineering Landmark. A pioneer in the American
railroad industry, Gridley Bryant, engineered its design and
construction and many of his inventions are still in use today.
During the next 140 years, over 50 quarries operated in Quincy,
which became known nationwide as "The Granite City". The last
active quarry closed in 1963. Popular activities at the Quincy
Quarries Historic Site include hiking, rock climbing, picnicking
and scenic viewing. Trail connections to the Blue Hills Reservation
are protected by recent parkland purchases.
Parking lot is on Ricciuti Drive at N 42° 14.570 W 071°
02.055
WARNING ! The Blue Hills are the native
habitat of two species of poisonous snakes, TIMBER RATTLERS and
COPPERHEADS. Always use caution while searching and NEVER do
anything that would harm these endangered animals.