Granite Revolving Ball
Granite Revolving Ball
4
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
101 within 5 kms
Attractions
29 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.0
24 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
7
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Paul S
Marion1,512 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
Most people want to be remembered by future generations after they are gone. The Merchant family of Marion, Ohio achieved that and then some when they erected a pedestal with a 5200 pound round black granite ball on top. Unexpectedly, the ball began to slowly rotate on the base. Concerned that it might fall, the Merchants had the ball lifted by crane and reset. Once again, it began to revolve on the base turning several inches a year. No one has ever determined the cause and it still slowly turns to this day. It is listed in Ripleys Bellieve it or Not, Roadside America, and Weird Ohio. The Merchant family plot with the large revolving ball and 11 smaller balls is on the north side of the cemetery across from the Grant Middle School stadium. For exact directions, contact the cemetery office. You may walk or drive to the site.
Written 26 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dzi614
Marion, OH50 contributions
Nov 2015 • Family
The cemetery is brimming with all manner of monuments for those of you who enjoy the symbols found therein. Visit the revolving ball, but do not miss the receiving vault where Warren Harding lay until internment. Paths abound and for the most part are even and easily walked.
Written 10 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bertsdave1
Erie, PA103 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
If you expect to see a spinning ball, you will be disappointed. If you examine the ball closely, you will clearly see that it has however been moving.
You will find the unpolished bottom in different locations, and you will also witness bird droppings on the very bottom of the ball, which can only happen if the ball has indeed been moving.
You will find the unpolished bottom in different locations, and you will also witness bird droppings on the very bottom of the ball, which can only happen if the ball has indeed been moving.
Written 10 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elliot
Mount Gilead, OH177 contributions
Oct 2018
Does it actually revolve? I don't know. You can see the spot on the ball which people say has been changing positions over the years. It's cool to see this piece of Marion folklore up close.
Written 25 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sherry B
13 contributions
Sept 2017 • Friends
This is an interesting attraction in Marion. Fun for the kids and adults to try and figure out how this granite ball manages to revolve by itself through out the year.
Written 27 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
76desert
West Virginia328 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
Like others, I saw where the big ball looks to be moving. To find the monument, look for a small hill in the cemetary; it's behind the obelisk. It's just a few minutes from the Harding memorial. It IS unique!! A plaque explaining why/what all those balls represent would be helpful!
Written 7 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndresMiguel1234
29 contributions
Jun 2017 • Friends
This is one of the most visited places in Marion. For over a century, the grave of Mr. Merchant has been a national and worldwide mystery, as the large, multi-ton granite ball slowly turns against all logic and scientific explanations. It is interesting to note that some other reviews are by people who expect that the ball whirs around fast enough for you to see it spinning crazily around and then state "it does NOT turn!" Well, YES, it does! But it's a slow turn, so don't be misled by some of the reviews that claim that it does not.
Written 2 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J. G
11 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
The Merchant Family Monument (Granite Revolving Ball) was interesting. The gigantic ball on the sculpture has certainly moved from it's original position. We had a little trouble finding the monument. Marion Cemetary has many beautiful grave markets, so driving around looking for the GRV was a fun part of the experience. It is located in the section of Marion Cemetary across the street from the Harding Memorial (not the section directly behind the Harding Memorial and not the other cemetary which is located across the road from Marion Cemetary - I believe it was called St. Mary's). Give yourself plenty of time to wander the lovely grounds.
Written 29 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca M
Columbus, OH1,156 contributions
May 2019 • Solo
It’s something to check out but I expected it to actually move, not the illusion of it moving. I can’t say whether or not it does at times or has moved.
The cemetery was beautiful and well-kept as cemeteries go. My favorite part (if you can have a favorite part of a cemetery) was this beautiful little church building!
The cemetery was beautiful and well-kept as cemeteries go. My favorite part (if you can have a favorite part of a cemetery) was this beautiful little church building!
Written 15 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vickie L
Marion, OH12 contributions
May 2018 • Family
This is an unusual site that has an interesting history. The large polished ball that sits on the grave marker in the old Marion Cemetary has be moving on it's pedestal. How do we know, there is a circle of the granite that was not polished when it was placed on the pedestal. This circle has moved to the side of the large ball. The ball is much to heavy for anyone to have moved it. It have lived in Marion for over 37 years and often take visitors to see it. Every time, the circle has moved slightly. And no you can't watch it move.
Written 3 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing