Heart of Indiana Limestone Country

Bedford, an American town in southern Indiana and the seat of Lawrence County, is long defined by its limestone heritage, where quarries and stoneworks shaped both the local economy and the architectural character of cities across the nation, including Chicago. Its historic core features courthouse squares, early neighborhoods, and civic landmarks now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, reflecting the era when Bedford's mills supplied stone for major public and commercial projects. The industry began in 1860 when Nathan Hall opened the first commercial Indiana limestone quarry, its stone hand-sawn and hauled away by horse and oxen; later known as the Blue Hole Quarry, the outcropping has since been completely removed. The wooded site lies on Bedford's east side, about four blocks north of what would be 150 16th Street, with only limited access today. - AsNotedIn