Quarry Climb

Quarry Climb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was 1825 when the Quincy Quarries were opened.   The granite for the Bunker Hill Monument, the Provincetown tower, and several piers around Boston sourced their stone from Quincy.  It was a major economic industry and active mining operation until 1963.

After the closures, the quarries themselves slowly began to fill with water.   They became popular - and dangerous - for swimming and cliff jumping.  Numerous people died jumping into the flooded pits, and eventually it was closed to the public.  

At the turn of the century, a novel solution was deployed during Boston’s “Big Dig” project.   The massive amounts of fill from the central artery tunnel was used to fill the pits, creating a safer perimeter for the large granite outcroppings.

Today the Quincy Quarries connects to the Blue Hill Reservation trail system and is open to the public.  People explore, rock climb, and enjoy views of the Boston skyline.   As depicted in the painting, some (many?) use their medium of choice (spray paint) to adorn large slabs of granite as well!