Marble Falls in Burnet County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Granite Mountain
Photographed By Richard Denney, July 4, 2009
1. Granite Mountain Marker
"This 866-foot dome of solid pink granite, covering 180 acres, contains the largest quarry of its kind in the United States. This mountain, like all granite formations, was once melted rock similar to lava. As the molten rock cooled thousands of feet below the earth's surface, it hardened into large crystals of quartz, feldspar and several dark-colored minerals. Wherever strength, durability and beauty of finish are required, granite is a favored building stone.
The mountain was part of a grant made to Texas colonist William Slaughter. The site became famous commercially when a dispute arose in the 1880s over the type of stone to be used in the Capitol in Austin. The issue was settled in 1885 when Governor John Ireland resisted demands to use non-native limestone.
Following this decision, a special track was built to haul the granite to the rail line in Burnet. The stone was generously donated to the state by quarry owners G. W. Lacy, N. L. Norton, and W. H. Westfall.
Today granite from the quarry here is shipped to all parts of Texas, the U.S. and foreign countries for use in monuments, shafts, jetties, and buildings. It has been used in the Galveston sea wall and in new state office buildings near the Capitol in Austin."Erected 1936 by State of Texas. (Marker Number 13357.)
Topics.
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Location. 30° 35.555′ N, 98° 17.95′ W. Marker is in Marble Falls, Texas, in Burnet County. Marker is on FM 1431, on the right when traveling west. From Marble Falls take FM 1431 W approx. 1 mi. to rest stop ROW. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Marble Falls TX 78654, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Marble Falls School Building (approx. one mile away); St. Frederick Baptist Church (approx. 1.6 miles away); Brandt Badger House (approx. 1.9 miles away); Governor O. M. Roberts' House (approx. 1.9 miles away); Marble Falls Depot (approx. 1.9 miles away); Jim Lovell (approx. 1.9 miles away); Michel's Drug Store (approx. 1.9 miles away); 1910 Post Office Building (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marble Falls.
Also see . . . Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. A similar, but larger granite mountain -- Enchanted Rock -- lies about 30 miles west of here. Enchanted Rock is the second largest granite outcropping in the US, the largest being Stone Mountain, Georgia. (Submitted on July 16, 2009, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas.)
Additional commentary.
Photographed By Richard Denney
2. Panorama with Granite Mountain (left) and marker (right)
1. Granite Mountain
Local visitor center literature states that despite continuous mining since the late 1800s "the bulk of the dome has hardly been diminished". But an aerial view suggests otherwise; click on map, switch to satellite view, and zoom in on Granite Mountain.
— Submitted July 16, 2009, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas.
Photographed By Richard Denney, July 4, 2009
3. Granite Mountain Closeup
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2009, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,896 times since then and 158 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 16, 2009, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
