Cornwall Iron Furnace
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (historic site), Cornwall, Pennsylvania
Cornwall Iron Furnace in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania was built by Peter Grubb between 1739 and 1742 and made pig iron and cast goods until 1883, including cannon and shot for the Revolution. It drew on the Cornwall Ore Banks, once the largest known iron ore deposit in the country. It is considered the best-preserved charcoal furnace in the U.S. and is a state historic site and National Historic Landmark.
- Company
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (historic site)
- Status
- Closed
- Opened
- 1742
- Employees
- Not stated
- Industry
- Steel and metals
- Revised
- November 12, 2026
What is made here
Charcoal-fired blast furnace that made pig iron and cast iron goods, including cannon and shot during the American Revolution.
Facts
| Built | Constructed between 1739 and 1742 by Peter Grubb, a former stonemason, using local stone (federal: npgallery.nps.gov) |
|---|---|
| Products | Mainly pig iron, plus stoves, firebacks and kitchen wares; during the Revolution it made cannon, shot, stoves and salt pans (federal: npgallery.nps.gov) |
| Operation | Ran from 1742 until February 1883 (federal: npgallery.nps.gov) |
| Ore | Fed by the Cornwall Ore Banks, mined 1742 to 1974 and the largest known U.S. iron ore deposit until the Mesabi Range was found in 1887 (federal: npgallery.nps.gov) |
| Preservation | Described as probably the best-preserved charcoal furnace in the United States; given to Pennsylvania in the 1930s and administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (federal: npgallery.nps.gov) |
Figures are as stated by the source named next to each one. Company figures are the company's own claims.
Can you visit?
State historic site administered by the PHMC (en.wikipedia.org) Check the operator's site before you go.
Sources
- NPS National Register nomination: Cornwall Iron Furnace (federal, checked November 12, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Cornwall Iron Furnace (reference, checked November 12, 2026)
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