A literal building block of American architecture, Danby Marble has a storied past. This unique stone can be found in some of the country’s most iconic buildings, including the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and even the headstones in Arlington National Cemetery.

A kind of white marble with delicate veins, Vermont Danby Marble is a timeless piece of history at home in any century. This guide will cover everything you need to know about Danby Marble, from its origins to its unique attributes.

If you’re interested in incorporating this illustrious stone to your home design, read on and learn how you can make your own architectural history.

The Story Of The Danby Marble Quarry

The Dorset Mountain in sleepy Vermont hides a priceless secret: the largest underground marble quarry in the world, the Danby Marble Quarry. This Vermont marble is extracted from an area that extends more than a mile long and plummets more than 40 acres deep into the earth.

Miners have excavated this precious stone since 1902. It quickly became popular for its stark white tone, crystal sheen, and muted gray to prominent black veining. The Danby Marble Quarry can produce more than 70 tons of marble blocks to meet the stone’s enduring popularity and constantly growing demand.

But where has all of that polished marble ended up? You can find your answers by strolling down Pennsylvania Avenue.

For decades, architects, designers, and builders have used Danby Marble to construct iconic American homes, federal buildings, and national monuments. It’s a one-of-a-kind, American-made treasure.

Why Danby Marble?

Today, Danby Marble is a popular choice for everything from kitchen countertop and backsplash designs to flooring and bathrooms to vanity tops. The possibilities are endless. Imagine dizzying spiral staircases, grand fireplaces, and extravagant fountains brought to life by sparkling white Danby Marble.

The benefits of Danby Marble are endless as well. Enjoy its:

• Natural Beauty – Homeowners and designers alike love this iconic white marble with its colorful but muted veins. With its warm colors and a wide range of available finishes, this natural beauty is versatile too.
• Longevity –Vermont Danby Marble is known for its astonishing longevity and natural stain resistance of its surface (just take a look at some of the national landmarks that are composed of this stunning natural stone).
• Eco-Friendly – Danby Marble is an eco-friendly choice, too. Danby Marble has earned the coveted Greenguard Certification.
• On Trend – The stone marketplace is trending towards lighter colored stones in all designs, positioning Danby Marble as a leader in architectural stone materials.
• Climate Variability – Due to its exceptional performance and sustainability, Danby Marble is suitable for almost any climate from the hottest summer day to the most frigid winter night.
• Strength – Compared to other popular types of white marble, Danby Marble is harder and less porous, offering an impressive absorption rate of just .06 to .08 percent. In contrast, popular Calcutta and Carrara marble have an absorption rate of .13 to .18 percent.¹
• American Made – Danby Marble is made in the United States, which means you can avoid costly tariffs and support your local economies.²

Danby Marble’s historical significance and timeless benefits have this material poised to continue growing in popularity in American home design. It’s a stone to keep your eye on.

Types Of Danby Marble

Like a diamond, no slab of Danby Marble is alike. In fact, there are ten different types of Danby Marble, each cut from different areas of the mountain and different layers of the veins within the marble. Let’s explore five of the most popular types of Danby Marble available:

• Eureka Calacatta Marble – Named for its similarity to prestigious Calacatta Gold Marble, Eureka Calacatta Danby Marble brings darker gold and grey veins in medium to heavy veining.
• Imperial Marble – Flip open your favorite home decor magazine, and you’ll be sure to spot Imperial Danby Marble, the most high-end option. Imperial Danby Marble features light to medium veining in soft gray and gold.
• Montclair Danby Marble – Montclair Danby Marble is a versatile choice. It offers medium to heavy veining with greenish to gray veins, in diagonal or horizontal forms. Choose between fleuri, cross-cut, or Striato, vein-cut.
• Mountain White Marble – Mountain White Danby Marble features classic gray diagonal veins with a bright white background and medium to heavy veining.
• Olympian White Marble – Olympian White Danby Marble offers gorgeous gray diagonal veins contrasted with a luminous white background and heavy veining.²
• Royal Marble – The most common variety, Royal Danby Marble is known for its consistent darkened veins in a subdued but timeless gray.³

The varying vein colors and tones offer something for everyone, from the soft gold veining in Imperial Danby Marble to the brilliant white Mountain White Danby Marble. Whatever your vision for your new or renovated home, there is surely a type of Danby Marble that can complement your aesthetic.

Finishes

Once you’ve chosen your desired type of Danby Marble, select a finish that will bring your design aesthetic to life. Your popular stone finish options include:

• Honed – A smooth, flat soft matte finish
• Polished – A glossy, reflective finish
• Brushed – A textured, antiqued finish

Your choice of finish will elevate all of your design choices and create unity and beauty.

Get Your Own Piece Of American History

Danby Marble’s luminosity and illustrious history speak for themselves. Even better, you don’t need to take a trip to the Danby Marble Quarry in Vermont to secure your very own piece of American history.

MATERIAL offers ready-to-ship Danby Marble that’s perfect for everything from moldings to mosaics. Order a sample to take a look at this stunning natural stone yourself.

Sources:

1. MontKrest. Everything to know about Danby Marble. https://www.montkrest.com/everything-to-know-about-danby-marble.html
2. Home Glow Design. Everything You Need to Know About Vermont Danby Marble Counters. https://homeglowdesign.com/2019/08/17/everything-you-need-know-vermont-danby-marble-counters/#:~:text=Danby%20Marble%20is%20a%20beautiful,underground%20quarry%20in%20the%20world
3. Marble and Granite, Inc. Danby Marble: Is Vermont the New Italy? https://www.marbleandgranite.com/blog/2016/june-2016/danby-marble-is-vermont-the-new-italy