Marble deposits were discoverd in the Crystal River Valley in 1873. Eight years later, the town of Marble was founded. Typical of mining towns, Marble went through periods of boom and bust and reached its peak in 1917, with a population of 1,400.
Ruins of what was once the world's largest marble finishing mill can be explored in the town. Here, marble from the nearby quarries was brought to be cut, carved, and polished. Among the ruins are two rows of marble pillars, which were used to support an overhead crane, and two marble walls, which served as firewalls between shops in the mill. Due to increasing costs, marble production ceased in 1942 and the mill was closed.
Today, marble is still being mined at the Yule Quarry, located a few miles from town. Marble from this mine has been used in landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Towmb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as many other buildings.