Pennsylvania, located in the heart of America's Rust Belt, takes pride in a strong industrial past: the steel industry, in particular, is a vital part of our history and culture. Pittsburgh isn't called the Steel City for nothing. The Carrie Blast Furnaces stand seven miles outside Pittsburgh. Built in 1884, there are two of them: #6 and #7. These furnaces are valuable remains of Pennsylvania's industrial past, especially because they are two of the very few blast furnaces left standing that were built before World War II.
Check out these amazing pictures of one of the abandoned furnaces.
The blast furnaces remain almost exactly as they were 100 years ago, with the exception of graffiti and deterioration.
When the steel mills in Pittsburgh were operational, the blast furnaces were used to produce iron. Four tons of raw materials were used to produce each ton of iron; at peak production in the 1950s and 60s, these furnaces could manufacture up to 1,250 tons of iron in a single day.
The Carrie Blast Furnaces were almost destroyed in the 1980s and turned into a shopping center, but they were luckily saved.
Activists and local government are currently working on plans to develop a museum at the site of the Carrie Blast furnaces, dedicated to the history of the steel industry.
You can take tours of the Carrie Blast Furnaces from May — October. The tour, which typically lasts about two hours, is an incomparable experience.
If you can't make it in person, check out the video below for a closer look at the blast furnaces.
Wow. Have you ever been to visit the Carrie Blast Furnaces...or do you know anyone who once worked there? Share your stories below.
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