Associations & Affiliates

Vermont Granite Museum:
The Vermont Granite Museum was founded by a coalition of over 300 Central Vermont citizens in 1994 as way to preserve the story and memories of our community’s granite industry. Since that time we have worked relentlessly to salvage the historic Jones Brothers Manufacturing plant and turn it into a museum. The Vermont Granite Museum’s mission is to preserve, honor, and showcase Vermont’s granite heritage and industry. The Museum’s Stone Arts School’s mission is to be North America’s premier source of information and education for the stone arts.

Hand Tool Institute:
The Hand Tools Institute, founded in 1935, is the trade association of North American manufacturers of non-powered hand tools and toolboxes. The objectives of the Institute are to promote and further the interests of its members relative to manufacturing, safety standardization, international trade and government relations.

The Natural Stone Institute (Formerly MIA + BSi):
Since 1919, the Building Stone Institute has worked on behalf of the quarries, fabricators, retailers, importers, exporters, carvers, sculptors, restorers, designers, and installers that comprise our diverse membership. BSI provides programs and services that empower our member companies to offer the
highest level of quality products and services. The Stone Foundation: stonefoundation.org
The Stone Foundation is a community of stonemasons and others involved with, or interested in, the celebration, preservation, and perpetuation of stonework and stone art. Since 1986 The Stone Foundation has lead a devout effort to honor stonecraft through publication, workshops, and seminars to inform and cultivate an international community of passionate stoneworkers and stonework enthusiasts.

The Stone Trust:
The Stone Trust is a rapidly growing registered nonprofit organization that provides education, training, and consulting services. We advocate for the preservation of existing dry stone walls and promote using the correct structural standards for the construction and restoration of dry stone walls.

The Dry Stone Conservancy:
The Dry Stone Conservancy's mission is to preserve historic drystone structures, to advance the drystone masonry craft, and to create a center for training and expertise nationwide. The Dry Stone Conservancy was incorporated in 1996 as a 501(c)3 organization to preserve existing dry-laid stone structures, and to revive and promote the ancient craft of dry stone masonry.

The Carving Studio:
The Carving Studio and Sculpture Center offers unique sculpture education programs amid inactive quarries and former manufacturing facilities of the Vermont Marble Company. Since 1987, sculptors, students and connoisseurs have traveled to West Rutland, Vermont to draw inspiration from the native marble and the creative spirit that lingers from the once-global industry that thrived here.