What the Field Museum’s Marble Teaches Us About How Countertops Age

Written by the Al Jory Marble team, countertop fabricators and installers in Crestwood, Illinois. Published November 6, 2026.

The Field Museum is famous for SUE the T. rex. But the building itself is a giant stone lesson. It’s wrapped in white Georgia marble that has stood up to more than 100 Chicago winters. If you want to know how marble ages, this is the best place in the city to see it.

The Building in Numbers

• Opened May 2, 1921, after construction began in 1915
• 350,000 cubic feet of white Georgia marble in the original building, according to the museum
• Stanley Field Hall’s floor is fossilized limestone about 300 million years old
• Architect: Peirce Anderson of Graham, Anderson, Probst and White

Next time you visit, look at the floor in the main hall. You’re walking on ancient sea life.

What 100 Years Did to the Marble

In 1991, researchers studied how the museum’s marble was weathering. They found that acid rain had slowly dissolved the surface, by up to about 4 millimeters in some spots on the columns. They also found that most cracks came from the weight of the building pressing on the columns, not from the weather.

That’s 70 years of Chicago rain, snow and city air. Your kitchen is a much gentler place, but the same basic chemistry applies.

What This Means for Your Countertops

Marble is made of calcite, and acids react with it. In a kitchen, that shows up in three ways:

• Etching: dull spots from acids like lemon juice, vinegar or wine. This is a change to the surface, not a stain.
• Staining: oils or colored liquids soaking in. Sealing helps prevent this.
• Scratching: marble is softer than granite and quartzite, so knives and grit can scratch it.

The Natural Stone Institute is clear: sealing helps with stains, but sealing will not prevent etching.

Patina: The Good Kind of Aging

Here’s the upside. Over time, marble develops a patina, a soft, worn-in look. The Natural Stone Institute notes that many people consider it a thing of beauty. Think of old European bakeries, where the marble counters have decades of character.

If you love that look, marble is a great fit. If you want your counters to look brand new forever, choose a harder stone.

How Other Stones Age

• Granite: very tough, holds its polish for years
• Quartzite: hard and natural, a great marble alternative
• Quartz: engineered, resists stains and etching, but don’t put hot pans on it. See our countertop heat resistance guide.

See how each stone looks after a decade in our post on how countertops age after ten years.

6 Ways to Keep Your Marble Looking Great

1. Wipe up acidic spills right away
2. Use cutting boards, trivets and coasters
3. Clean with pH-neutral soap and warm water
4. Skip vinegar, bleach and harsh sprays
5. Reseal on the schedule your fabricator gives you
6. Pick a honed finish if you want etching to show less. See our guide to polished vs. honed vs. leathered finishes.

For a full routine, read our countertop care guide.

Talk to a Fabricator Who Works With Marble Every Day

At Al Jory Marble, we cut, edge and polish every slab in our own Crestwood shop. We’ll give you an honest answer on whether marble fits your kitchen, or whether another stone makes more sense. Learn more about our marble countertops and our stone countertop company in Crestwood.

Al Jory Marble
4711 W. 135th St., Crestwood, IL 60418
Phone: (708) 362-7674
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Get your free estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Field Museum made of?
The original building used about 350,000 cubic feet of white Georgia marble. It opened in 1921.

How does marble age on a countertop?
It etches from acids, can scratch, and slowly develops a soft patina. Many people love that worn-in look.

What’s the difference between etching and staining?
Etching is a dull mark from acid reacting with the stone. Staining is something soaking into the stone. Sealing helps with stains, not etching.

Does honed marble hide etching better?
Yes. A honed, matte finish shows etching less than a shiny polished finish.

Which countertop stone ages best?
Granite and quartzite hold up best in busy kitchens. Marble ages beautifully if you like patina.

Sources

• Field Museum: Architecture
• Encyclopedia of Chicago: Field Museum
• Winkler and Kirchmayer, “Weathering of Crystalline Marble at the Field Museum,” APT Bulletin, 1991
• Natural Stone Institute: Granite vs. Marble
• Natural Stone Institute: White Stones