Carrie Blast Furnaces (Pittsburgh, Swissvale, Homestead: house, live, linear)

[Rick Rowlands]

The Carrie Furnaces National Historic Landmark in Rankin/Swissvale, PA has been receiving much needed attention over the last year and a half, since the Rivers Of Steel Heritage Corporation has finally taken over stewardship of the site, and also thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers known as the Carrie Furnaces Association, of which I am president. The site is a former blast furnace plant for US Steel and made the molten iron that was made into steel at the Homestead Works.

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Carrie 6 and 7 a century ago


The same view in the 1960s


The same view in the fall of 2011


The plant from the Pump House in Homestead, trail head for the Steel Valley Trail.


Same view taken during WWII.

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Mud Gun control shed in the cast house before restoration.

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Same shed after restoration

[South Range Family]

I started checking this out after watching it on Pittsburgh Off Limits. I wouldn't mind taking a tour.

[stburr91]

First of all, I would like to say thank you to all the volunteers of the Carrie Furnaces Association, for all the work that they are doing to preserve this piece of history. I hope to have the time to volunteer at least one day down at the site.

The tour has been on my list of things to do, and I think I hit one of the tours this year.

Just an aside, I think the raised tracks in this picture would be and awesome place for a walkway, allowing the public to get a good view of the furnaces. It could be a small linear park, kind of like Highline Park in NYC.




Highline Park NYC.

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[BrianTH]

My thanks as well, both for the work you have been doing and for the pictures! I think this is going to become an increasingly popular place to visit over time.

[Rick Rowlands]

stburr91, we do have plans to open up the high line for visitors. We have to construct a new walking surface and put up some railings, so it probably won't be until next year when that part of the site is opened up.

This year's tours allow visitors to go more places than they could go last year due to brush cutting and clearing of debris to make safe walking areas. aside from opening up the high line, we also plan to return one of the pieces of equipment at the plant to operation for demonstrations. Every year will see some new part of the plant come alive again.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Rick Rowlands

stburr91, we do have plans to open up the high line for visitors. We have to construct a new walking surface and put up some railings, so it probably won't be until next year when that part of the site is opened up.

Great news!

[CortlandGirl79]

Thanks Rick. I've seen some of your stuff before and commend you on your work w/the Youngstown Steel Heritage Foundation - Home.

[UKyank]

Very cool - I plan on taking a tour in July when my father comes to the city to visit

[Rick Rowlands]

This is the view from the high line.

[Rick Rowlands]

On April 28 Rivers of Steel hosted Pyrotopia at the Pump House in Homestead. We decided to illuminate the furnaces to serve as a backdrop for the event. Using seven 400 watt and three 1000 watt floodlights powered by three small generators, we did a decent job of illuminating the structures.