<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM MEDUSA
CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES' STATEMENT OF INCOME AND BALANCE SHEET AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000064674
<NAME> MEDUSA CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           25045
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    29881
<ALLOWANCES>                                      1173
<INVENTORY>                                      31177
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 89420
<PP&E>                                          376186
<DEPRECIATION>                                  250457
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  223446
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            34605
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             1
<OTHER-SE>                                      153969
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    223446
<SALES>                                         323377
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                323377
<CGS>                                           200999
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   241798
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                (1300)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                3674
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  79205
<INCOME-TAX>                                     24945
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              54260
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 (1770)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     52490
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.24
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.07