Marble, Colorado

Marble is a town located in Gunnison County, Colorado. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 105. The community is located in a valley of the upper Crystal River along the Elk Mountains, accessible by a gravel road from Colorado State Highway 133. Unlike most of Gunnison County, the town is located on the north side of McClure Pass in the valley of the Crystal, and is thus somewhat separated geographically from the rest of the county.

Related Topics:
Gunnison County, Colorado - 2000 - Crystal River - Elk Mountains - Colorado State Highway 133 - McClure Pass

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The town is noted as the location of a former historic marble quarry along the mountains that operated in the late 19th and early 20th century, and from which the town draws its name. The marble of the quarry was considered to be of exceptional quality and was used for the Tomb of the Unknowns, as well as for parts of the Lincoln Memorial and civic buildings in San Francisco. It was also used for the construction of the Equitable Building, a historically important early skyscraper in New York City.

Related Topics:
Marble - 19th - 20th century - Tomb of the Unknowns - Lincoln Memorial - San Francisco - Equitable Building - Skyscraper - New York City

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Despite the high quality of the stone, the quarry operation struggled because of transporation difficulties that made the quarry unprofitable. Moreover, the harsh winter snows and frequent mud slides in the shale soils along the Crystal River valley caused frequent landslides, making quarrying difficult. In the late 20th century the community has become a small summer resort destination based on continued limited use of the quarry.

Related Topics:
Shale - Landslide - 20th century

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