Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in southeastern Berks County, near Elverson, Pennsylvania, is an example of an American 19th century rural iron plantation, whose operations were based around a charcoal-fired cold-blast iron blast furnace. The significant restored structures include the furnace group (blast furnace, water wheel, blast machinery, cast house and charcoal house), as well as the ironmaster’s house, a company store, the blacksmith’s shop, a barn and several worker’s houses.
Hopewell Furnace was founded about 1771 by ironmaster Mark Bird, son of William Bird, who had been one of Pennsylvania’s most prominent ironmasters. The site’s most prosperous time was during the 1820-1840 period with a brief return to significant production during the American Civil War. In the mid-19th century, changes in iron making, including a shift from charcoal-fueled furnaces to anthracite-fueled steel mills, rendered smaller furnaces like Hopewell obsolete. The site discontinued operations in 1883.
In 1938, the property was designated Hopewell Village National Historic Site under the authority of the Historic Sites Act, thereby becoming one of the earliest cultural units of the National Park System.
Today, Hopewell Furnace consists of 14 restored structures, 52 features on the List of Classified Structures, and a total of 848 mostly wooded acres. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is located in the Hopewell Big Woods and bordered by French Creek State Park on three sides and State Game Lands 43 on the south side, which preserves the lands the furnace utilized for its natural resources.
Where it is:
Park Address: 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA 19520
Directions
From the North: US Route 422 to PA Route 345. Turn onto Route 345 South and travel 6.6 miles through the town of Birdsboro and French Creek State Park until you reach the park entrance.
From the East: PA Turnpike (I-76) West to exit 312 (Downingtown). Take PA Route 100 North 9 miles to PA Route 23. Turn left onto Route 23 West and travel 7 miles to PA Route 345. Turn right onto Route 345 North 4 miles to the park entrance.
From the South: I-95 North to PA Turnpike (I-76). PA Turnpike West to exit 312 (Downingtown). Take PA Route 100 North and travel 9 miles to PA Route 23. Turn left onto Route 23 West and travel 7 miles to PA Route 345. Turn right onto Route 345 North and travel 4 miles to the park entrance.
From the West: PA Turnpike (I-76) East to exit 298 (Morgantown). Turn onto PA Route 10 South and travel 1 mile to PA Route 23. Turn left onto Route 23 East and travel 5.3 miles to PA Route 345. Turn left onto Route 345 North and travel 4 miles to the park entrance.
GPS:
Latatude: 40.20667
Longitude: -75.767660
Hours:
Sunday:9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Monday and Tuesday:Closed
Wednesday-Saturday:9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. On days the park is closed, its historic buildings, parking lot and visitor center are unavailable for use, but its trails (which interconnect with trails from French Creek State Park) remain open.
Cost:
There are no fees to access Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site.
Location Contact Information:
Mailing Address:
Hopewell Furnace NHS
2 Mark Bird Lane
Elverson, PA 19520
Phone:
610 582-8773
Fax
610-582-2768
Facilities:
Public restrooms are located outside on the lower level of the Visitor Center. A water fountain with a bottle filling station and doggie drinking station is located just outside the restrooms.
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