CHANCE TO VENTURE INSIDE.
ERIKA: WHAT DO HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL AND THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY HAVE IN COMMON?
THE TINY TOWN OF DORSET, VERMONT.
THIS IS WHERE ALL THAT STATELY MARBLE CAME FROM.
OUR COUNTRY’S OLDEST QUARRY.
IT IS A POPULAR SWIMMING HOLE IN THE SUMMER, BUT OTHERWISE IT IS QUIET.
AS D DOZENS OF OTHER QUARRIES THAT OPERATED IN THE AREA.
JUST ONE IS STILL ROCKING.
IT HAPPENS TO BE THE LARGEST UNDERGROUND MARBLE QUARRY IN THE WORLD.
WELCOME TO DANBY QUARRY.
THE OUTER STONEWORK ON THE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL, THE PILLARS OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.
THAT MARBLE WAS MINED HERE.
AND WE ARE GOING IN.
WHAT IS THIS CALLED?
MYSELF RESCUER?
SAFETY FIRST WHEN TRAVELING 1.5 MILES INTO A MOUNTAIN.
THE QUARRY MANAGER IS OUR GUIDE.
>> IS A HUGE SCALE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN HERE SO LONG.
ERIK WORKERS STARTED SLICING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE STONE IN THE LATE 1800S, CHASING LIARS OF MARBLE IN DORSET MOUNTAIN.
VEINS ROLLING THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN TO MAKE A HOLE SO THEY CAN GO BACK AND WORK ON THE FLOORS AND TIP OVER 400 TON BLOCKS.
WE CUT OUT THE MATERIAL THEY WANT.
ERIKA: ONCE HUNDREDS OF MEN WERE NEEDED.
NOW THANKS TO ADVANCED EQUIPMENT, JUST OVER ONE DOZEN CAN DO THE JOB.
A GALLERY SAW CUTS OUT THE MARBLE.
>> BASICALLY AN OVERSIZED CHAINSAW THAT CUTS HORIZONTALLY.
IT THE PUTS VERTICAL CUTS IN THE WALL TO MAKE THE BLOCKS SMALLER SO WE CAN PULL THEM OUT.
ERIKA: THE BLOCKS ARE THEN SLICED SMALL OF A DIAMOND-STUDDED CABLE.
>> DIAMOND FRAGMENTS MELTED ONTO A LITTLE SHAFT.
ERIKA: THE STONE IS ULTIMATELY FINISHED ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOMER’S REQUEST.
>> RAW MATERIAL AND TURNED INTO WHATEVER THEY’RE LOOKING FOR.
WHETHER IT IS A POLISHED FINISH, A HOME FINISH.
ERIKA: IT IS THEN SENT ALL OVER THE WORLD.
IN DEMAND BECAUSE OF ITS BEAUTY, PURE AND SIMPLE.
THAT DAZZLING WHITE.
IT CAN BE FOUND IN FINE KITCHENS, BUT ALSO MONUMENTS, MUSEUMS, AND MORE.
FROM INSIDE A MOUNTAIN, TO THE TOP OF ONE.
IT IS TIME TO EXPLORE THE VISTAS OF DORSET.
THESE PEAKS ARE PRESERVED BY THE FOREST AND FROM WHEN CENTER.
>> THIS IS OUR VISITOR CENTER FOR MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME UP TO THE PROPERTY START THEIR ADVENTURE.
ERIKA: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EXPLAINS THAT CAN BE HIKING, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, EVEN DOWNHILL.
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SUMMITS ON THE PROPERTY.
MOUNT ANTON IS THE HIGH POINT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH DESTINATIONS.
I THINK WE HAVE CLOSE TO 1200 FEET OF ELEVATION LOST FROM THE SUMMIT.
ERIKA: WITH FRESH POWDER IT IS TEMPTING.
>> CONSISTENTLY -- ERIKA: WE DECIDE UNLESS OF A DROP.
I HAVE NEVER SNOWSHOEING BEFORE, BUT I IMAGINE IT IS WALKING.
>> IT IS.
A LOT LIKE SHUFFLING WE ARE GOING TO GO FOR COMFORTABLY SNUG.
ERIK THERE ARE GUIDED HIKES AND WORKSHOPS.
>> WE HAVE 3200 ACRES.
30 MILES OF TRAIL THAT INTERLACE THE WHOLE PROPERTY.
I WOULD SAY ABOUT EIGHT BACKCOUNTRY CABINS.
OBVIOUSLY THIS TIME OF YEAR WE DON’T HAVE TO MANY FOLKS ST AYING.
ERIKA: ALSO A 60 ACRE WORKING FARM.
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PIGS.
A FLOCK SHEEP USUALLY BETWEEN 60 AND 80 HEADS DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR.
WE HAVE A FLOCK OF LIARS AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE CHICKENS ON THE PROPERTY.
ERIKA: GEORGE MERCK, YES, FROM THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY, IS TO THANK FOR MUCH OF THIS.
HE BOUGHT THE LAND FOR A GETAWAY FOR HIS FAMILY.
IN 1950 HE DONATED IT AND STARTED AN ENDOWMENT TO FUND THE CENTER.
>> THERE IS A GROWING DISCONNECT BETWEEN PEOPLE IN THE NATURAL WORLD.
WE ARE CONSOLIDATING TOWARDS CITIES.
OUR MISSION HAS GROWN A LITTLE BIT TO INCLUDE REINTRODUCING PEOPLE TO THESE SPACES.
REINTRODUCING PEOPLE TO THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE, SHOWING THEM WHAT A FARM LOOKS LIKE, SHOWING THEM WHAT A WORKING FOREST LOOKS LIKE.
ERIKA: COPULA WITH SCHOOL GROUPS AND YOUNG FAMILIES, THE IDEA IS TO SHOWCASE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND INSPIRE A SENSE OF STEWARDSHIP.
>> TAKE IN THE SIGHTS, GET THE SUNSET.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND CONNECT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD.
SHAYNA: WOW.
TO REALLY EXPERIENCE MERCK FOREST AND FROM WHEN CENTER, YOU CAN RESERVE ONE OF THEIR CABINS.
THEY SAY IT IS A GREAT WAY TO EXPOSE YOUNG KIDS TO CAMPING WITHOUT HAVING TO ROUGH IT TOO MUCH.
ANTHONY: BACK TO THE MARBLE FROM THE DORSET MOUND WE SAW, YOU CAN FIND OUT ALL OVER THE WORLD.
IT IS THAT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS IN MONTREAL, SINGAPORE STOCK EXCHANGE, CANARY WHARF IN LONDON.
SHAYNA: AND IT IS GORGE