No Match for Local Stone?

DENVER – Coloradoans can take pride that the natural stone used to construct their capitol came from nowhere else than the Centennial State. Until now.
As part of a safety project at the capitol in downtown Denver, the stately building will get new staircases with marble steps, reports the Denver Post. And, to match the Colorado-quarried marble of original work, the new stone will come from … Italy.
Ever since its construction in the late 19th century, Colorado’s capitol suffered from a major flaw; the center staircase in the building’s rotunda is the only one between the first and second floors. Elevators connect all three floors and the basement, but fire evacuation routes would be severely limited.
Colorado’s State Historical Fund will put up $2.3 million for safety upgrades, including better ventilation, a sprinkler system and new staircases. The marble on the new steps will match the central stairway in looks, but not in origin.
Marble for original construction came from a quarry near Beulah, a small town 130 miles south of Denver. However, the quarry for the rose-colored marble played out in the late 1800s, forcing the switch to Italian stone.