Current Events & Happenings
​Visit our current events & happening web page for all up coming events and special programs of the museum

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​Quarry Museum and Lyons Turning Mill
 June Opening  
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill will open on Saturday, June 6th and Sunday 7th from 11 to 4 . Also, a self-guided walking tour of the Lyons Turning Mill grounds to view artifacts around the mill with interpretive information at each location will be viewable. Visitors can try their hand at drilling granite using a plug drill that granite workers used in the 1800's and is used today to drill granite. Historic pictures of Quincy’s granite industry with interpretive information on each picture will be displayed. Visitors can view the locations of where the machinery was located by the foundations and stud locations. Visitors can also learn the basic geology of Quincy granite, what is Quincy granite, what made Quincy granite, how did it get to Quincy and what uncovered Quincy granite. The Museum will also be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum. Directions: Curry's Ace Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to signal traffic light, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp.  Proceed across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. Turning Mill and museum will be 100 yards on left at 20 Quarry Hills Drive. For weather related information on openings or general questions call the museum at 617-472-1322.  Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org

​Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum 
 
Come visit the Quarry Museum and Lyons Turning Mill  and learn about Quincy's granite history.
 
Quarry Museum Opening April 2026
 
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will open on Saturday, April 4th and 18th and Sunday, April 5th from 11 to 4 for a self-guided walking tour at the Lyons Turning Mill and museum located on 20 Quarry Hills Drive, West Quincy. Historic pictures of the granite industry and interpretive information can be viewed at each stop around the mill. The museum will be open to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. Come visit our indoor, outdoor and geology museums. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum. Free admission 

​Blacksmith Shop At The Museum And Turning Mill
The Museum has constructed a new building 12' x 14' to replicate a blacksmith shop similar to the three that were at the Lyons Turning Mill that supported the many functions of  blacksmithing, mainly sharpening stone cutting tools and the cutting tools of the many turning lathes at the mill around 1900. The museum has received a donation from Dan Cantelli representing the Cantelli family of blacksmithing tools, included a forge with a hand operated blower, two anvils one large and small and a large  assortment of blacksmithing tongs that belonged to his grandfather Carmine Cantelli. With the establishment of the blacksmith shop and Carmine Catelli's blacksmithing tools the museum is planning to have the blacksmith shop open as part of our outdoor museum where visitors can see a working blacksmith shop similar to one that was at the Turning Mill. The plan throughout the open season of the Museum, April through November is to bring in visiting blacksmith to give demonstrations of blacksmithing. This will include sharpening of drills of the stonecutters also drills of the quarry workers which was a major function in the granite industry and at the Turning Mill. The demonstration will also include the firing up of the forge, the anvil hammering of tools and the final step in the sharpening of the tools the process of heat treating of the tool cutting surface.

Stone House To the Lyons Turning Mill and Museum
The granite stone house that was located at 92 Willard St. W., Quincy was scheduled for demolition to make way for construction of a large apartment complex. There were three stone houses that were built around 1826 in West Quincy for workers who built the Granite Railway, the first incorporated commercial railroad in America, and also granite workers that work the cutting sheds along the railway. The stone house was built in 1830 and was not part of the Granite Railway history but it is on the National Register and State Register of Historic Structures in Massachusetts. Built by Jonas Kendall in 1830 it is an example of Federal Style architect, and we can assume it's reasonable to speculate that the granite used in the house came down from the Pine Hill ledge by the Inclined Plane Railway and transported to the site by the existing Granite Railway. With the support of  mayor Tom Koch and the help from Granite City Partners the Quincy  Quarry Museum  submitted a Community Preservation Grant and the grant committee submitted in June 2025 to the City Council which approved the appropriation of $919,000 in Community Preservation Granting for relocation of the stone house. The plan is to disassemble and reassemble it adjacent to the Lyons Turning Mill which would complement both structures. The stone building will enable the museum to expand its collection of historic artifacts of Quincy's granite industry to tell the story of the industry that brought waves of immigrants to Quincy at the turn-of-the-century. The stone building will be fully ADA compliant heated and air condition to allow the museum again to have meaning and bringing guests presenters not only of Quincy's granite history but all subjects of history. Please join the museum so we can continue saving the granite industry for future generations.

The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum are participating in International and Quincy Archaeology Month 2025 “DELVING INTO
QUINCY’S GRANITE PAST”.
 
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will open the Lyons Turning Mill site for self -guided tours of the mill grounds and remains. Touring the site visitors will view artifacts and interpretative information on the artifacts scattered throughout the site. The Quarry Museum will also be open for viewing. There will also be historical pictures of the mill and its operation in 1893 producing the granite products the mill was known for. On display at the rear of the mill is the replica of the rail car of the first commercial incorporated rail road in America built in1925 for the 100 th anniversary of the Granite Railway Company. The open house will take place Saturday, October 18 th from 11 to 3 pm at the Lyons Turning Mill on Quarry Hills Drive, off Ricciuti Drive, West Quincy. Rain date October 19 th and for weather related information call 617-472-1322
Directions:  Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to stop light, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp.  Proceed with caution across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.
Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org
For more information call 617-472-1322.

The Quincy Quarry Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill will be open on  "Open Heritage Day Quincy"  September 27th 2025 from 10 am to 4 pm. The museum will have presentations on stone splitting and stone finishing allowing visitors to split granite . A stone sculptor will be demonstrating sculpturing. A geologist will be discussing the Blue Hills volcanic and how it relates to Quincy granite. A ham radio operator will be setting up at the museum a ham radio station "Special Event Station Quincy 400" broadcasting to the world. Free admission.  

Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum & Lyons Turning Mill October Opening 2025
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum & Lyons Turning Mill will open on Saturday, October 4th and Sunday, October 5th from 11 to 3 for a self-guided walking tour at the Lyons Turning Mill grounds located on Quarry Hills Drive, West Quincy. Historic pictures of the granite industry and interpretive information can be viewed at each stop around the mill. The Museum will also be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and learn about your expediencies at the quarries. Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum. Free Admission   

​Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum & Lyons Turning Mill
​September Opening 2025
 
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum & Lyons Turning Mill will open on Saturday, September 6th and Sunday, September 7th from 11 to 3 for a self-guided walking tour at the Lyons Turning Mill grounds located on Quarry Hills Drive, West Quincy. Historic pictures of the granite industry and interpretive information can be viewed at each stop around the mill. The Museum will also be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and learn about your expediencies at the quarries. Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum. 

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                   Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum                                                                               August Opening

​Mast & boom with lifting hardware at the Lyons Quarry edge. One of our outdoor museum’s displays
 
                Come Visit and Learn About Quincy Granite Industry
The Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum will open on Saturday, August 2nd and Sunday, August 3rd from 11 to 3 for a self-guided walking tour at the Lyons Turning Mill grounds located on Quarry Hills Drive, West Quincy. Historic pictures of the granite industry and interpretive information can be viewed at each stop around the mill. The Museum will also be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum.   Directions:  Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to the traffic light, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp.  Proceed across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. The Museum and Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.
Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org
For more information call 617-472-1322.Admission Free

​Quarry Museum & Lyons Turning Mill
 May Opening  
The Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill located on Quarry Hills Drive West Quincy will open on Saturday, May 3rd and Sunday, May 4th from 11 to 3. The Lyons turning Mill and surrounding areas we call our outdoor museum which include 60 sites with interpretive information on Quarry machinery and sites with historic locations of when the mill was in operation. A walk through the mill and surrounding areas will be a self-guided walking tour with much information on the granite industry of Quincy. The museum has added several new granite related artifacts to the outdoor museum which include a mast and boom located at the quarry. We have also added a newly constructed walking path around the rear of the mill with interpretive information on sites related to the mill’s operation. Historic pictures of Quincy’s granite industry with interpretive information on each picture will be displayed in what was the engine room of the mill. Visitors can view the locations of where the machinery was located by the foundations and stud locations. Also on display will be the replica of the rail car built in 1925 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Granite Railway Company. The original was built in 1825 for the Granite Railway Company. The indoor museum will also be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. A new display of Quincy’s sculptor, John Horrigan, with tools that he would have used and the hammer he is holding in the photo carving the Titanic statue. The museum’s new building featuring a geology display will also be open. Also there will be a PowerPoint presentation at 1 PM of Quincy archaeologist Richard Dick Muzzrole from his original slides he took when he was unearthing the granite railway at the Bunker Hill site and also on the waft at the Neponset River site. Seating is limited Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum. Free admission. Directions:  Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to the traffic light, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp.  Proceed across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. The Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.
Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org
For more information call 617-472-1322.

Quarry Museum & Lyons Turning Mill
 March Opening  2025 
The Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill located on Quarry Hills Drive West Quincy will open on Saturday, March 1st and Sunday, March 2nd from 11 to 3. The self-guided walking tour of the Lyons Turning Mill grounds to view artifacts around the mill with interpretive information at each location may not be viewable due to winter related snow and ice conditions that still exists around the mill grounds at present. The museum has added several new granite related artifacts to the outdoor museum. We have also added a newly constructed walking path around the rear of the mill with interpretive information on sites related to the mill’s operation. Historic pictures of Quincy’s granite industry with interpretive information on each picture will be displayed in what was the engine room of the mill. Visitors can view the locations of where the machinery was located by the foundations and stud locations. The indoor museum will also be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. A new display of Quincy’s sculptor, John Horrigan, with tools that he would have used and the hammer he is holding in the photo carving the Titanic statue. The museum’s new building featuring a geology display will also be open. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum. Free admission. Directions:  Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to the traffic light, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp.  Proceed across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. The Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.
Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org
For more information call 617-472-1322.
 

Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum November Opening 2024
Come Visit and Learn About Quincy Granite Industry
The Quincy Quarry & Granite Workers Museum will open on Saturday, November 2nd and Sunday, November 3rd from 11 to 3 for a self-guided walking tour around Lyons Turning Mill grounds and the outdoor museum located on Quarry Hills Drive, West Quincy. Historic pictures of the granite industry and interpretive information can be viewed at each stop around the mill. The Museum will be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. The museum has a new geology display including over sixty core samples of bedrock from the Berkshires to Boston Harbor in the museum’s new building adjacent to the main museum. New on the walking tour is a display of granite that was saved when the Malnati building in South Quincy the site of were the Italian Festival was held each year was demolished Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum.  Admission Free

​Quincy Granite Geology Presentation September 29th
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum is having a geology presentation of Quincy granite. The geology presentation will be held at the Quarry Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill on Quarry Hills Dr. West. Quincy. The geology presentation will be given by museum member Les Tyrala a registered geologist who has a broad background in the science of earth geology. Les will discuss, what is Quincy granite, what made Quincy granite, where did Quincy granite come from, how Quincy granite got here and what uncovered Quincy granite along with many other interesting facts about geology and the Blue Hills. The Quarry Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill will also be open for a self-guided tour of the museum and turning mill. The walking tour in and around the mill has interpretive information on all granite industry artifacts and interesting sites along the walking paths. The museum’s new building featuring a geology display will also be open. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum. Free admission. The presentation will be held on Sunday, September 29 at 11 AM. Directions:  Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to stop light, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp.  Proceed across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to the end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. The Museum and Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.
Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org
For more information call 617-472-1322.
 

Save The Date October 19th
​Celebrating International and Quincy Archaeology Day at the Lyons Turning Mill and Quarry Museum 2024
International Archaeology Day (IAD) is a celebration of archaeology and its contribution to society. Every October the A I D and archaeological organizations around the world present archaeological programs and activities for people of all ages and interests
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will participate in International and Quincy Archaeology Month 2023 “DELVING INTO QUINCY’S GRANITE PAST”. The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will open the Lyons Turning Mill site for self -guided tours of the mill grounds and remains. Touring the site visitors will view artifacts and interpretative information on the artifacts scattered throughout the site, including columns in various stages of production. The Quarry Museum will also be open for viewing. There will also be historical pictures of the mill and its operation in 1893 producing the granite products the mill was known for. View the Lyons Quarry where granite was quarried and used to produce many of the granite products manufactured at the mill.  
The open house and tour will take place Saturday, October 19th from 11 to 3 pm at the Lyons Turning Mill and Museum on Quarry Hills Drive, off Ricciuti Drive, West Quincy. Rain date October 26th and for weather related information call 1-617-472-1322

Celebrating International and Quincy Archaeology Day at the Lyons Turning Mill and Quarry Museum  October 2023
International Archaeology Day (IAD) is a celebration of archaeology and its contribution to society. Every October the A I D and archaeological organizations around the world present archaeological programs and activities for people of all ages and interests. Whether it is a family-friendly archaeology fair, a guided tour of a local archaeological site, a simulated dig, or a presentation from a visiting archaeologist, the interactive, hands-on IAD programs provide a chance to uncover the past and experienced the thrill of discovery. International Archaeology Day is celebrated annually on a Saturday in October, although participating events occur throughout the month of October.
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will participate in International and Quincy Archaeology Month 2023 “DELVING INTO QUINCY’S GRANITE PAST”. The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will open the Lyons Turning Mill site for self -guided tours of the mill grounds and remains. Touring the site visitors will view artifacts and interpretative information on the artifacts scattered throughout the site, including columns in various stages of production. The Quarry Museum will also be open for viewing. There will also be historical pictures of the mill and its operation in 1893 producing the granite products the mill was known for. View the Lyons Quarry where granite was quarried and used to produce many of the granite products manufactured at the mill.  
The Lyons Turning Mill was built in 1893 by James Lyons to produce round turned products which included monolithic columns, drum columns, balls. urns, balusters and other cylindrical shapes. The mill also produced    monuments and products of granite for the building trades of that era. A specialty of the company was the turning and polishing of solid granite balls up to 6 feet in diameter. An example can be seen at the entrance to Quincy City Hall. Columns up to 30 feet in length and 4 feet in diameter could also be turned and polished at the mill. At the turn of the century about 80 men were employed consisting of quarrymen, stonecutters, machine operators and engineers all skilled granite workers.
The open house and tour will take place Saturday, October 21st from 11 to 3 pm at the Lyons Turning Mill on Quarry Hills Drive, off Ricciuti Drive, West Quincy. Rain date October 28 th and for weather related information call 1-781- 600- 6728
Directions:  Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to stop sign, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp.  Proceed with caution across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.
Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org
For more information call 617-472-1322.
 

Quincy Quarry Museum Opening and Geology Presentation with geologist Les Tyrala August  2023

Quincy Quarry Museum Opening and Geology Presentation August  2023

The Quincy Quarry Museum and the Lyons Turning Mill will be open Saturday, August 5th and Sunday, August 6th from 11 to 3. The geology presentation will be given by Museum member a registered geologist Les Tyrala who has a broad background in the science of earth geology. The geology presentation will be Saturday, August 5th at noon and on display Saturday will be core borings from 50 cities and towns across the Commonwealth showing the different bedrock of Massachusetts. Also, a self-guided walking tour of the Lyons Turning Mill grounds to view artifacts around the mill with interpretive information at each location will be viewable. The Museum will be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy’s granite industry. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum tee shirts will be on sale to help support the Museum.  Rain date for geology presentation Sunday the 6th. For weather related information on presentation or any other additional questions for the museum call the museum at 617-472-1322
 

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Granite Geology and Stone Splitting at the Lyons Turning Mill
 June 17th 2023
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum is having a geology of Quincy granite presentation and a granite splitting demonstration. The geology and splitting demonstration will be held at the historic Lyons Turning Mill and the Quarry Museum on Quarry Hills Drive West Quincy Saturday, June 17th at 2:00 pm. The geology presentation will be given by museum member Les Tyrala a registered geologist who has a broad background in the science of earth geology. Les will discuss, what is Quincy granite, what made Quincy granite, where did Quincy granite come from, how Quincy granite got here and what uncovered Quincy granite along with many other interesting facts about the geology of Quincy granite. After the attendees learn about the geology of Quincy granite there will be a demonstration on the splitting of granite. The demonstration will include a short presentation on the splitting of stone and a hands-on splitting of granite by the attendees. Also, a self-guided walking tour of the Lyons Turning Mill grounds to view artifacts around the mill with interpretive information at each location will be viewable. The museum has acquired new artifacts of the granite industry from the collection of the late Dave Hodgdon that are on display at the mill. The museum has also added several new displays on the walking tour around the mill.  Historic pictures of Quincy’s granite industry with interpretive information on each picture will be displayed. Visitors can view the locations of where the machinery was located by the foundations and stud locations. The Museum will also be open for a self-guided tour to view pictures and artifacts from Quincy's granite industry. Museum members will be on hand to answer questions and Quarry Museum T-shirts will be on sale to help support the museum. Safety equipment will be supplied by the museum.  Directions:  Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to stop sign, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp.  Proceed with caution across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.
Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org
For weather related information on presentation or any other additional questions call the museum at 617-472-1322 

Celebrating Archaeology Month at the Lyons Turning Mill 2022
 
The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will participate in International, Massachusetts and Quincy Archaeology Month 2022 “DELVING INTO QUINCY”S GRANITE PAST”. The Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum will open the Lyons Turning Mill site for self -guided tours of the mill grounds and remains. Touring the site visitors will view artifacts and interpretative information on the artifacts scattered throughout the site, including columns in various stages of production. The Quarry Museum will also be open for viewing. There will also be historical pictures of the mill and its operation in 1893 producing the granite products the mill was known for. View the Lyons Quarry where granite was quarried and used to produce many of the granite products manufactured at the mill.  
The Lyons Turning Mill was built in 1893 by James Lyons to produce round turned products which included monolithic columns, drum columns, balls. urns, balusters and other cylindrical shapes. The mill also produced    monuments and products of granite for the building trades of that era. A specialty of the company was the turning and polishing of solid granite balls up to 6 feet in diameter. An example can be seen at the entrance to Quincy City Hall. Columns up to 30 feet in length and 4 feet in diameter could also be turned and polished at the mill. At the turn of the century about 80 men were employed consisting of quarrymen, stonecutters, machine operators and engineers all skilled granite workers.
The open house and tour will take place Saturday, October 15th from 11 to 3 pm at the Lyons Turning Mill on Quarry Hills Drive, off Ricciuti Drive, West Quincy.
Directions:  Curry's Hardware, at the intersection of Copeland and Willard Streets, West Quincy. Proceed under expressway, stay to right to stop sign, the U.P.S. building will be on the other side of ramp.  Proceed with caution across ramp onto Ricciuti Drive to end and right on to Quarry Hills Drive. Turning Mill will be 100 yards on left.
Visit our website www.quincyquarrymuseum.org
For more information call 617-472-1322.
 

Stabilization work at the Lyons Turning Mill 

First phase capping o the fwalls is in progress.  Work on the Lyons Turning Mill is being funded by the Quincy Community Preservation Committee and Quincy Quarry and Granite Workers Museum.  The work is being done
by Folan Waterproofing and Construction Co. of So. Easton, MA. Progress will beupdated on our web site.