Deer Isle Granite Museum

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Deer Isle Granite Museum

The Museum celebrates the skill and bravery of Deer Isle's stonecutters & the beauty of its granite.

06/06/2026

The Museum will feature a NEW rotating exhibit this summer on the creation of the John F. Kennedy Memorial in Arlington Cemetery -- the last big job to leave the island before the quarries shut down temporarily. Quarrying was resumed by the Ramos family in the late 1970's-early 1980's and continues only at Crotch Island today -- come on one of our guided tours August 14-15 this year!

But the Kennedy Memorial was one of the biggest and most important jobs to leave Stonington.

We are hoping there are still family members around who were part of that quarrying effort between 1965-67.

We'd like to include your stories. The Museum would be interested in all stories, photos and memorabilia from this important granite job!

Here are a couple of the photos we already have. If you know anyone in these photos, please let us know.

Looking forward to seeing you soon -- the Museum reopens June 17 with regular seasonal hours, Wed - Sat 10 am - 4 pm.

05/15/2026

THANK YOU to everyone who turned out for Spring Fling! Opening Reception for Wings, Waves, and Woods at the Museum Wednesday night!

Such warm and delicious fun.

Special thanks to PenBay Farmed Scallops and Narrative Food for helping the Museum make a rainy evening merry for many.

And the Museum could not kick up its heels without its loyal, hard working, volunteer board members Jeffrey Olson and Barrett of Boyce's Motel and of course our partner team at Island Heritage Trust. Great job, all!

Wings, Waves, and Woods continues throughout this weekend - get out there and see some birds! Full schedule at the link in comments below.

05/02/2026

Tomorrow's the day! Don't miss the Town of Stonington's annual -- a walk through time, linking history to the future in how we work together to shape the community we want to be.

This year's event, a very short walk beginning at the Fish Pier and ending here at the Museum, is special: celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

What was Deer Isle like at the moment when the Declaration was made? How did it impact our island then -- and how does it continue to impact who we are today?

Come add your voice to the stories and conversation.

04/02/2026

Did you know we open in the "off-season" for school groups and other special visits?

We had a fabulous time with Brooksville's first and second graders last week -- what a great group of learners they are! Thanks to their teacher, Justine Appel, for bringing her students in for some hands-on, place-based local learning.

The students loved being allowed to touch some of the old tools, see how the quarry worked, understand how important one family was to Stonington's industry and community, and learn that we still quarry in Stonington today!

Also that "quarry" is both a noun and a verb. :)

Did you miss last year's rotating exhibit, The McGuire Family: Rock Solid Stonington, 1905 - 1968?

No worries! We are keeping it up until our regular opening in mid- June so please make a time to come to bring your group or class by to check out that and all the rest of our exhibits!

The Museum is proud to be hosting this spring:
April 30 -- our Salt Air Seniors for a tour and talk on the McGuire Family Exhibit
May 2 -- Jane's Walk: Deer Isle-Stonington at the Declaration of Independence
May 13 -- Wings, Waves & Woods Opening Reception

Photos courtesy the Brooksville School and used with the permission of the school, parents, and students.

12/05/2025

Happy holidays from the Granite Museum! This past summer's exhibits, talks, and tours were very successful and well attended, and make us look forward to more in 2026!

This little museum runs solely on your charitable support.

If you'd like to be sure we can keep Main Street thriving with the story of Stonington's hard working culture, head on over to our website to make an end-of-year donation -- or purchase something from our shop for your holiday delight!

We are grateful for all the ways you support Stonington's authentic, rocky character and history.

https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML20V8MD8710X/checkout/3PSSPVP2QFQ52INRUUQOFAPY

11/09/2025

Do you know that most of New York City was once “paved” with cobblestones from Stonington?!

Back in the day, the stonecutters and quarry men who immigrated from all over the world to work in Stonington’s quarries made extra money by keeping a machine known as a “motion” at home and churning out cobblestones on their off hours.

The remaining cobblestone streets in NYC and other cities are now rare - and tended to by specialty crews like the one profiled in this NYTimes article - free link in comments below.

“Although they are called cobblestone streets, Mr. Berman said that most were actually made of chunks of granite, known as Belgian Blocks. Cobblestones are not a specific kind of stone, but include a variety of natural stones from places like rivers and fields that are typically rounded and irregularly shaped. Belgian Blocks, which were used as ship ballast, were extracted from quarries and cut into mainly rectangular blocks of uniform size.” - NYTimes

11/05/2025

Field trips -- that is what is on our minds!

The Museum is closed to the public for the winter -- but we open up for school field trips.

Do you need to schedule your trip to learn and experience island culture today?!

This year's large exhibit on the McGuire family and its impact on Stonington's granite industry and our community was very popular and will remain up throughout the winter for student visits and storytelling. It comes down in May.

Send an email to [email protected] and we will setup your school, home school, or organization's winter visit!

09/08/2025

It's always great to have local students in the Museum!

Today a large group of home-schooled students and families visited and spent an attentive and curiosity-filled 40 minutes viewing and asking questions about the exhibits and the legacy of stonecutting in Stonington.

The group of students shown in this photo was discussing an old, original report card of a member of the McGuire family, who expanded and sustained quarrying in Stonington in the 20th century. The special exhibit The McGuire Family: Rock Solid Stonington 1905-1968 remains up until October 11 -- don't miss it!

Want to bring your class, or a group? We open specially for such visits throughout the year. Email [email protected].

08/20/2025

Tonight’s the night! Join the Museum for a free discussion and reception from 5-7 pm with the people responsible for the use of Stonington’s granite in the expansion of The NY Historical.

Our local granite lives in the world!

08/19/2025

Free event Wednesday from 5-7 pm - learn how our granite is helping to expand The New York Historical’s Center for Democracy on Central Park West in NYC!

Address

51 Main Street
Stonington, ME
04681

Website

http://www.deerislegranitemuseum.org/

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