Steel Time Capsule

Hop on over to the grungy, been-there-done-that vibes of Steel City and get a gander at the 'Furnace' - a rust-kissed relic reminding us of Pittsburgh's glory days, standing tall on the National Register of Historic Places. This story's full of steel barons, labor strife, and asbestos galore, all wrapped in an epic yarn about Steel City's steel history.

Tucked away in the heart of Swissvale, Pennsylvania, beside the Monongahela River, you'll find Carrie Furnace. Erected in 1884, it was a piece of the Homestead Steel Works, churning until 1982. In its prime, it melted around 1,000 to 1,250 tons of iron daily. Just Furnaces #6 and #7 remain today, running between 1907 and 1978, along with the hot metal bridge. The bricks and rusted machinery offer a peek into a time when Pittsburgh ruled the steel scene. Furnaces #6 and #7, among a few others, are old-school, pre-World War II, 20th-century blast furnaces to make the cut. Now, the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation, a nonprofit bunch, oversees the site, offering guided tours and programs from May through October.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Steel Time Capsule: Carrie Furnace, A Rustic Reminder of Pittsburgh's Steel

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