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Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
2008.04.19
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View past the Blacksmith shop to the cast house.
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View past the Blacksmith shop to the cast house.
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The blacksmith shop.
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The blacksmith shop.
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View of the cast house on the left, the ironmaster's mansion in the center, and the barn on the right.
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View of the cast house on the left, the ironmaster's mansion in the center, and the barn on the right.
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View from the office store over the road down to the tenants quarters.
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View from the office store over the road down to the tenants quarters.
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The famous Hopewell Stove, one of the products for which Hopewell Furnace was known.
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The famous Hopewell Stove, one of the products for which Hopewell Furnace was known.
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Hopewell Furnace, built in 1771, was one of hundreds of "iron plantations" producing both raw pig iron as well as cast and wrought iron products. Pennsylvania was the most important iron producing colony, thanks to abundant raw materials, water power, and religious tolerance (which drew enterprising ironmasters from other colonies and Europe). Iron plantations such as Hopewell were common until the mid-1800's, when they were unable to weather the shift from the age of iron and water power to the age of steel and steam. By the start of the 20th century, complexes in Pittsburgh and elsewhere put the rural iron foundries out of business. Hopewell is fortunate to have been bought by the US Government in 1935, designated a national historic site, and restored to the period of 1820-40.
