Cornwall Iron Furnace
PO Box 251
Rexmont at Boyd Street
Cornwall, PA 17016
(717) 272-9711
www.cornwallironfurnace.org

Cornwall Furnace was built in 1742 near the Cornwall Ore Banks, once the greatest known deposit of iron in the country. The iron industry has been the economic backbone of Lebanon County for over 200 years.

The Furnace operated until 1883, being modernized and upgraded several times along the way. It was the seventh iron furnace to be constructed in what was then the province of Pennsylvania. Today it is the last such structure to remain intact in the entire nation.

Once the heart of a nearly 10,000 acre "iron plantation", a self-sufficient community dedicated solely to the production of iron, the Furnace produced various cast iron products, pig iron, and cannon and cannonballs during the Revolutionary War. During the Civil War gun blocks were made here.

Visitors step back into time, touring the massive 30-foot pyramid of stone and the equipment within, including a 24-foot steam powered gear of wood and iron that drove the blast equipment. Interpretive exhibits tell the fascinating story of ironmaking and introduce visitors to the opulent lifestyle of millionaire furnace owners.

A Guided Tour lasts one hour and is suitable for families and groups of any age. Nearby are the former Cornwall mines themselves, the Ironmaster's estate, and workers' stone homes clustered in villages reminiscent of Cornwall, England.

School Groups can also participate in an interesting, interactive program involving the history of the area. 90 minutes long, it is adaptable to a wide range of grade levels.