All throughout June, you’re invited to take part in tours through limestone quarries and architecturally-notable places, witness the craft of limestone carving at workshops, browse extensive collections at exhibitions, and join in on many other festivities.
Limestone is more than just a type of rock — it’s the foundation for Monroe and Lawrence County’s legacies as builders of American history.
Campus Limestone Tour
Monroe County is home to a 35-mile long, 10-mile wide corridor of Salem Limestone, formed long ago by an ancient inland sea. The thick, high-quality stone from our county was dubbed the “nation’s building stone,” and has been used to build 27 US state capitols, the Pentagon, the Lincoln Memorial, the Empire State Building, and countless other iconic structures.
The limestone industry in Southern Indiana helped propel this incredible natural resource to national stardom. After the first commercial limestone quarry was opened by Richard Gilbert in 1827, limestone began to rise in popularity, exacerbated by railroad transport and the need for quality building materials to replace wooden structures.
Demand for limestone in the late 19th and early 20th centuries attracted immigrants from all over Europe to venture to Bloomington and Bedford for work, cutting in quarries and carving art out of the fine-quality stone located in mills throughout Monroe and Lawrence County.
Campus Limestone Tour
After World War II, demand for limestone dropped in favor of steel and glass architecture. However, the postwar-era saw a renaissance of limestone use on college campuses, with Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Indiana University, and other universities seeking the material for grand stone buildings. Indiana limestone has become even more popular recently, recognized as a timeless and efficient building material throughout the United States.
Although it's known as a building material, Indiana limestone is highly-revered in the art community as well. Artists appreciate the beauty of the stone and the ease of which it can be carved. Our limestone has built a rich historical inheritance that inspires generations of architects, artists, and workers all around the world to create buildings, landmarks, and masterpieces that will last for years to come.
The Pentagon, Lincoln Memorial, Empire State Building, Tribune Tower, and Grand Central Station are all made of Indiana Limestone.
Indiana Limestone is also known as Salem Limestone, named after the exposed areas of stone near Salem, Indiana.
Salem Limestone is nearly chemically pure — it's about 97% calcium carbonate.
Limestone was designated Indiana’s state stone in 1971.
Until the late 1800s, quarries were not aware that the limestone belt was one continuous strip of rock. Because of this, each area's limestone had a local name, including Bedford Stone, Bloomington Stone, Ellettsville Stone, Salem Stone, and White River Stone.
The Salem Limestone corridor, which runs through Monroe and Lawrence Counties, is incredibly deep, reaching 90 feet below the earth’s surface in certain areas.
Indiana Limestone is comprised of a countless amount of carbonate shell debris from Mississippian-period organisms.
Limestone erodes more quickly than other types of stone; this has led to Southern Indiana’s characteristically hilly uplands.
About 15% of the Earth’s crust is comprised of limestone.
The more groundwater limestone is exposed to, the more “pure” and favorably-colored it becomes. Lower layers of limestone with more water exposure are most ideal for building.
Frequently Asked Questions About Indiana Limestone
What is Limestone Month?
Limestone Month, an annual celebration each June, is a series of festivals, tours, and events to honor the prolific history of the limestone industry in Monroe and Lawrence Counties.
Salem Limestone, also known as Indiana Limestone, Bedford Limestone, Bloomington Limestone, and several other names, is an incredibly pure, majority calcium carbonate sedimentary rock. It was created from the accumulation of small-shelled organisms under the shallow inland sea that covered Indiana millions of years ago.
Indiana Limestone is used across the United States! It can be found everywhere from the Pentagon to the Empire State Building to homes around the country. You may be surprised to learn that in New York City alone, there are several examples of Indiana Limestone in use, including Ellis Island, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Grand Central Station.
Yes! Indiana Limestone is a great building material, and several local businesses & artists continue to use limestone for its ease of workability and appealing look.
Who are some of today's limestone carvers and artists?
Today's limestone carvers are a diverse group of artists. Some are born into it, working in the industrial side of the business alongside or in the tradition of their fathers, uncles, or brothers who have done the same. Others are artists who have sought out the beauty and ease of limestone after exploring other mediums.
Indiana Limestone Symposium
Each June, the Indiana Limestone Symposium brings together experienced carvers, hopeful artists, and complete novices in an open area on the grounds of the Bybee Stone Company in Ellettsville, Indiana. Instructed by nationally-known stone artists with years of carving experience in sculptural and architectural carving, these artists learn to carve or improve their technique under the Indiana summer sun.
Amy Brier
A co-founder of the Indiana Limestone Symposium, Amy Brier has exhibited her work locally, nationally, and internationally, and is a board member of the Stone Carver's Guild. Amy combines traditional carving techniques with contemporary art ideas such as public interaction and appropriation. Amy's architectural carvings can be seen on Simon Hall on the Indiana University campus, and her sculpture, Impression, can be seen on Ivy Tech's Bloomington campus.
Dale Enochs
Creator of the centerpiece sculpture located near City Hall on Bloomington's B-Line Trail, Dale Enochs is a local artist working in limestone. Dale's work has been on display at the Indianapolis International Airport, in Bloomington-area art galleries & restaurants, and at the Indiana Governor's Residence. His sculptures range from small tabletop pieces to huge, outdoor installations.
