Stannard Quarry

Approximately two miles south of the Kirtland Temple, inside the Chapin Forest Reservation, is the quarry where stone was cut to be used in the construction of several local buildings, including the Kirtland Temple. In the 1830s, workmen extracted blocks of the local sandstone by hand-drilling holes in the rock and using wedges to split the stone. For a short time, Joseph Smith oversaw the workmen quarrying stones for the temple.

Today, visitors to the Chapin Forest Reservation can walk along the Stonecutters Loop Trail. It leads to a bridge overlooking the quarry pond, where visitors can view remnants of the drill holes where limestone blocks were cut from the creek bed. The walk is very easy; it is only 0.12 miles on level terrain and well-manicured trails. Interpretive signs at the trailhead and along a trail share more information about the history of the site and its importance to the local community.

360° Walkthrough

What to Expect

The Stonecutters Loop Trail is a well-kept trail with interpretive signs along a path in the forest. The trail is a short and easy loop. This is a self-guided experience.