Tenino in Thurston County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

The Tenino Stone Company Quarry House

Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, February 28, 2026

1. The Tenino Stone Company Quarry House Marker

Inscription.
The Tenino Stone Company wasn't the only Sandstone Quarry Operation in town, but it was the first, and its site, the most iconic. The first Quarry Office was located where the Tenino Depot Museum is today. This second Quarry Office (now called the Quarry House) originally had a stone fireplace, an ornate sandstone fence in front, porch columns and the Tenino Stone Company sign. Only the columns remain on site. The "Tenino" portion of the sign sits in front of Tenino City Hall.

After the Quarry closed, the Quarry House spent many years as a private residence for the Fenton family. Beside the Quarry House, the Tenino Stone Company had the Planing and Curing Shed, the Saw Mill and Blacksmith Shop, and the Cutting and Shipping Shed. Today, the newly remodeled Quarry House serves as the Tenino Community Center.

[Captions:]
Sanborn Insurance Map of the Tenino Stone Company in 1910. South Thurston County Historical Society, (STCHS)

Splitting stones: A series of holes were drilled into the sandstone. Plugs or wedges (shown) were pounded into the holes to split the stone.

Bushing Hammer

Wooden mallet

Tenino Quarry House with employees of the Tenino Stone Company in the early 1920's. STCHS

Tenino Stone Company Carvers at work. The wooden mallet

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and chisel are used when carving sandstone. Wooden mallets do not bounce the way that hammers do; consequently, each strike has longer contact with the chisel giving it more "push" while carving, STCHS

This photo of the Quarry House circa 1910 shows the original location of the Tenino sign. STCHS

Erected by City of Tenino and Thurston County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 46° 51.3′ N, 122° 51.185′ W. Marker is in Tenino, Washington, in Thurston County. It is at the intersection of West Park Avenue and Howard Street SE, on the right when traveling east on West Park Avenue. It is in the park, outside the Quarry House Community Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 399 W Park Ave, Tenino WA 98589, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Puget Sound Region

and in Greater Seattle.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A History of Remembrance (a few steps from this marker); Lest We Forget (within shouting distance of this marker); From Quarry to Public Pool (within shouting distance of this marker); Great Northern Railway: Caboose Restoration (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Tenino City Hall History

Photographed by Shirley A Stirling, February 28, 2026

2. The Tenino Stone Company Quarry House Marker

(approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Oregon Trail (approx. 0.3 miles away); Oregon Trail 1844 (approx. 0.6 miles away); McIntosh, Washington (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tenino.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. This page has been viewed 29 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 5, 2026, by Shirley A Stirling of Lacey, Washington. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.