Cornwall Iron Furnace

img_3488When Charter Day* rolled around in 2016, I decided to take my older children to visit the Cornwall Iron Furnace located in Lebanon county.  It was a rainy day but since most of the attraction is indoors, it was a perfect destination for a leisurely Sunday afternoon.

Iron plantations were cropping up in colonial America before the Revolution as frontiersman demanded products for blacksmithing and household uses such as stoves and cookware.  The young nation seemed to contain an endless supply of forests used to make charcoal, the fuel for the furnaces.  Although Parliament attempted to prohibit the growth of the iron industry, the colonists continued their lucrative enterprise, which eventually played a critical role in the American Revolution, supplying cannon and shot to the Continental army.  Cornwall was established in 1742 and continued operation until 1883 when it became obsolete due to changing technologies.  It sat abandoned, untouched until the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acquired it in 1932, turning it into a museum.

img_3487Stepping into the historic iron furnace, we were transported back in time to get a peek at how this crucial material was made.  We followed the process from the making and storing of charcoal, to the loading of the furnace with iron ore, limestone, and charcoal, to the huge, churning wheel (like 2 stories high) that blasted air into the furnace, to the tapping of the iron into molds, and to the finished product and shipment.

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Ironmaster’s mansion

It was fascinating to learn about early industry in such a tangible way, and the children enjoyed walking through the maze-like furnace and asking questions of our tour guide as we went.  After the guided tour, we watched a short video of the background and history of the furnace, and looked around the interesting museum shop where my son purchased some strong magnets.  We drove around and looked at the ironmaster’s mansion (which I believe may be toured as well), a nearby mine, and the quaint village originally built for furnace workers and their families.  We all came away with a sense of having seen history, which leaves a lasting impression.  I recommend the Cornwall Iron Furnace as a perfect supplement to learning about colonial times, but told from the perspective of the industrial life versus the domestic life.

Beware:  Although perfect for children, I wouldn’t recommend toddlers come along as the furnace tour contained some dangers for little ones and is not stroller accessible.  I did not see any picnic areas.  We passed the historic village area on our way in and out of the furnace, so be sure to take note of it then as it would not be easy to walk to from the furnace.

Parking is free and readily available.

*Charter Day—means free admission to state museums in celebration of when William Penn received the charter from Great Britain’s King Charles II granting land that would become the state of Pennsylvania. 

 Hours of Operation:
Open Thursday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5:00 p.m., with the last tour beginning at 4:00 p.m. each day. Open Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, and additional hours by appointment.

Admission Fees:
Regular (12-64) $8.00
Junior (3-11) $4.00
Reduced (65+ and motor club members) $7.00
Complimentary (Children 2 and under) Free

Mailing Address:

Cornwall Iron Furnace
P.O. Box 251
Cornwall, PA 17016

717-272-9711

Directions:
94 Rexmont Road, Cornwall, PA 17016

See http://www.cornwallironfurnace.org for more information!

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Day Tripper Mom

Jeanette Knaub is a wife and an at-home mom to four children; Jackson (17), Eliana (15), Amalia (13), and Lilah (8). During the school year, she works part time as a Classroom Aide. In what little spare time is left, she enjoys volunteering at church and community organizations, reading, running, and of course researching and blogging about her family’s next trip!

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